Briefing to Incoming Ministers

The labour market underpins New Zealand’s economic fortunes through people in work and the value created through that work. It also sustains social fortunes for people and their families, communities and regions.

The labour market has been through a major transition in recent years – from a period of relatively high unemployment to a situation of skill and labour shortages.

We are in a situation where, as well as getting more people into work, we need to give increasing attention to areas that will help ongoing economic performance.

This briefing provides all ‘labour market’ Ministers with an overview of New Zealand’s labour market, how it is performing, the labour market challenges facing New Zealand now – and in the future – and the issues the Department has identified as key to addressing these challenges to better affect labour market outcomes.