Pacific peoples Labour Market Outcomes - at a Glance
Published: 28 March 2007
Description
This is the second annual report on Pacific peoples labour market outcomes. It focuses on changes for Pacific peoples in the past five years.
Link to full report
Pacific Labour Market Outcomes HTML | PDF [73 KB, 7 pages]
Summary
Pacific peoples have benefited from robust economic conditions and have enjoyed above average employment growth over the last five years.
The unemployment rate for Pacific peoples has fallen to record lows.
The disparity in unemployment rates between Pacific and non-Pacific peoples has reduced considerably.
Wage growth for Pacific peoples has been above average over the last five years.
Pacific peoples participation in industry training and tertiary education is above average.
Labour market outcomes for Pacific youth have improved greatly.
Description of Pacific peoples labour market for the year to December 2006
The role of immigration
New Zealand operates a ballot quota system. The impact of these ballots is that migrants are drawn from a cross section of Pacific society not just the high skilled.
Net migration of Pacific peoples accounted for 30% of total net migration gains.
The occupational breakdown of people who arrived from the Pacific is more skilled than the New Zealand workforce.
Challenges
Participation in the labour market for Pacific peoples remains very low and the disparity with non-Pacific peoples is widening.
Pacific peoples remain over-represented in total unemployment and in low-skilled occupations.
What is being done
Work is being done by a number of agencies including the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education.
Initiatives by these and other agencies aim to address immigration, employment, education and economic development for Pacific peoples and have helped reduce most labour market disparities between Pacific peoples and non-Pacific peoples.
Related information
Quick facts about Pacific peoples in the labour market
Author or contact details
For further information please contact the Labour Market Analysis team
