New Zealand Unemployment Rate rises to 4.8% in Q3 versus 5.0% expected

The New Zealand Unemployment Rate in the third quarter (Q3) climbed to 4.8% from 4.6% in the second quarter, according to data published by Statistics New Zealand on Wednesday. The market consensus was a 5.0% print in the reported period.

Additionally, the Employment Change decreased by 0.5% in the third quarter from a 0.4% increase in the previous reading. This figure came in weaker than the expectation of a 0.4% decrease.

Market reaction to New Zealand employment report

At the time of writing, NZD/USD is trading 0.17% higher on the day at 0.6005.  

Employment FAQs

How do employment levels affect currencies?

Labor market conditions are a key element to assess the health of an economy and thus a key driver for currency valuation. High employment, or low unemployment, has positive implications for consumer spending and thus economic growth, boosting the value of the local currency. Moreover, a very tight labor market – a situation in which there is a shortage of workers to fill open positions – can also have implications on inflation levels and thus monetary policy as low labor supply and high demand leads to higher wages.

Why is wage growth important?

The pace at which salaries are growing in an economy is key for policymakers. High wage growth means that households have more money to spend, usually leading to price increases in consumer goods. In contrast to more volatile sources of inflation such as energy prices, wage growth is seen as a key component of underlying and persisting inflation as salary increases are unlikely to be undone. Central banks around the world pay close attention to wage growth data when deciding on monetary policy.

How much do central banks care about employment?

The weight that each central bank assigns to labor market conditions depends on its objectives. Some central banks explicitly have mandates related to the labor market beyond controlling inflation levels. The US Federal Reserve (Fed), for example, has the dual mandate of promoting maximum employment and stable prices. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) sole mandate is to keep inflation under control. Still, and despite whatever mandates they have, labor market conditions are an important factor for policymakers given its significance as a gauge of the health of the economy and their direct relationship to inflation.

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