NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS NEWS
Empowering Kiwi Businesses
New Zealand’s labour market added jobs in September, with filled jobs rising 0.3 per cent from August to 2.36 million, according to Stats NZ’s monthly employment indicators. The figures provide an early read on hiring across the economy, based on employers’ payday filing data.
The annual picture is stronger than the monthly one. In September, 2.35 million jobs were actually filled, up 22,791 jobs (1.0 per cent) from September 2025. Actual data is provisional for three months to account for additional payday filing data being received.
Total gross earnings for the month were $16.1 billion on an accrual basis, up $524 million (3.4 per cent) on an accrual basis from September 2025. The accrual method allocates earnings proportionally to the period in which they were earned, removing the volatility of monthly data—for example, a fortnightly pay period that occurs twice in some months and three times in others.
The September increase was spread across all three industry groups. Service industries added 5,177 filled jobs (up 0.3 per cent), goods-producing industries added 1,584 (up 0.4 per cent), and primary industries added 432 (up 0.4 per cent). Services account for the bulk of New Zealand employment, so the group’s monthly movement carries the most weight in the national total.
Over the year to September, the largest industry increases were in public administration and safety, up 6,041 jobs (3.7 per cent), and health care and social assistance, up 5,942 jobs (2.1 per cent). Construction added 2,480 jobs (1.3 per cent), education and training added 2,386 (1.1 per cent), and administrative and support services added 1,642 (1.7 per cent).
Annual growth is concentrated in publicly funded sectors. Public administration and health care together account for the two largest increases, ahead of construction and education.
Auckland recorded the largest regional increase, up 6,798 jobs (0.9 per cent), followed by Canterbury, up 6,519 jobs (2.1 per cent). Waikato added 3,918 jobs (1.7 per cent), Otago added 2,638 (2.2 per cent), and Bay of Plenty added 2,010 (1.4 per cent).
Canterbury and Otago recorded the fastest percentage growth among the largest movers, both above 2 per cent, while Auckland’s larger base produced a smaller percentage gain. The regional figures reflect where employers are adding headcount, which matters for local labour supply and wage pressure.
Filled jobs rose by 8,190 (0.7 per cent) for men and by 8,597 (0.7 per cent) for women compared with September 2025, an even split between the two.
By age group, workers aged 35 to 39 saw the largest annual increase, up 9,557 jobs (3.4 per cent), followed by 40 to 44, up 7,832 (3.1 per cent). The 45 to 49 group added 5,834 jobs (2.6 per cent), the 65+ group added 5,800 (4.3 per cent), and the 55 to 59 group added 4,541 (2.3 per cent).
The 65+ group recorded the fastest percentage growth of any age bracket listed, continuing a pattern of older workers remaining in or returning to paid work.
For employers, the figures point to steady, not rapid, hiring. A 0.3 per cent monthly increase is modest, and 1.0 per cent annual growth in filled jobs suggests the labour market is expanding slowly. Businesses competing for staff in health care, construction, and public administration face the most competition, given those sectors recorded the largest annual increases.
Stats NZ also flagged a data-quality issue. It said it had identified cases where payroll remediation payments led to overestimates of filled-job counts at lower aggregate levels. “Data-quality assessments will continue to monitor these payment types and remove associated filled jobs when identified,” the agency said, adding that the impact on the monthly employment indicators’ total aggregates and long-term trends is minimal.
Gross earnings on a cash basis, which covers the amount paid in the reference month, can still be accessed on Infoshare.
NZ Business News reports on the decisions, deals and numbers shaping New Zealand business — the companies making them, the policy and market conditions they work within, and what it means for the people running businesses here.