5 Nov 2014

Unemployment rate continues to fall

12:42 pm on 5 November 2014

The number of jobs is growing at a faster rate than the expanding population, allowing the unemployment rate to fall to its lowest level since March 2009.

Unemployment has remained above 8 percent in provinces such as Northland, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa.

The unemployment rate is at its lowest level since March 2009. Photo: RNZ

The unemployment rate at the end of September stood at 5.4 percent after jobs grew 0.8 percent to 2.35 million.

Official figures show the number of people unemployed fell by 4000 in the September quarter and participation in the work force was at a near record 69 percent of the working-age population.

The Government statistician said as-well-as more people working, those people were also working longer hours - actual hours worked rose 3.3 percent in the year ended in September.

Ordinary time wages grew half a percent in the September quarter, taking annual growth to 1.9 percent.

Economists considered that increase to be tame and said it gave the Reserve Bank even more reason to keep interest rates steady for the foreseeable future.

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