New Zealand - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in New Zealand was 2,896,322 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,896,322 in 2021 and a minimum value of 1,632,162 in 1990.

Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 1,632,162
1991 1,713,797
1992 1,720,281
1993 1,738,983
1994 1,785,783
1995 1,830,775
1996 1,884,292
1997 1,905,524
1998 1,911,252
1999 1,926,353
2000 1,944,777
2001 1,979,042
2002 2,041,461
2003 2,081,464
2004 2,138,307
2005 2,194,713
2006 2,244,972
2007 2,278,538
2008 2,300,485
2009 2,316,795
2010 2,339,265
2011 2,365,873
2012 2,371,489
2013 2,400,253
2014 2,478,687
2015 2,537,201
2016 2,645,036
2017 2,740,347
2018 2,791,662
2019 2,825,542
2020 2,877,711
2021 2,896,322

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure