New Zealand's participation rate rose to 68.9 per cent in the December quarter from 68.6 per cent in September, and was up 0.7 percentage points from a year earlier, against a backdrop of rising inbound migration.
The labour cost index, which measures wage inflation, rose at a quarterly pace of 0.5 per cent across all sectors and including overtime. Private sector wages rose 0.6 per cent, ahead of a 0.4 per cent increase in public sector wages.
The figures come as surveys last month showed signs of an improving labour market, with gains in employment confidence and firms finding it harder to hire find skilled and unskilled workers. The Reserve Bank is keeping tabs on capacity pressure that may emerge as the Canterbury rebuild and Auckland housing suck up resources, which may spill over into broader inflation if wages rise, and lead to higher consumer prices.
Unemployment in Auckland fell to 6.3 per cent in December from 6.7 per cent, while Canterbury's jobless dropped to 3.4 per cent from 4.2 per cent.
The number of construction workers rose to 185,800 in the quarter from 177,800 in the third quarter, and manufacturing jobs increased to 254,000 from 247,900. Retail, accommodation and hospitality employees increased to 363,100 from 356,200. Agriculture, fishing and forestry employees increased to 149,500 from 138,700.
Today's figures show total hours worked fell 0.3 per cent to a seasonally adjusted 75.7 million hours in the quarter, though that was 1.3 per cent annually.
Underemployment increased, with 5.3 per cent of part-time workers wanting to take on more work, compared to 4.2 per cent in the September quarter.
The quarterly employment survey, also released today, showed ordinary time private sector wages increased 0.3 per cent to $25.98 in the quarter, and were up 3.2 per cent on an annual basis. That compared to a 0.2 per cent fall in public sector wages to $35.27 and an annual increase of 1.6 per cent.
Average weekly earnings for full-time equivalents ordinary time increased 0.2 per cent to $1,051.64.
New Zealand's unemployment rate ranked 12th lowest among developed nations, below Chile and above Luxembourg.
The labour market continues to grow and unemployment has fallen 0.2 per cent to 6 per cent, Statistics New Zealand has just announced.
In the latest employment stats just published, Statistics NZ said there were 24,000 more people employed in the December 2013 quarter, following an additional 28,000 in the September quarter.
Over the December 2013 year, the number of people employed rose 3 per cent in the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS). Demand for workers from established businesses rose 1.9 per cent in the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES).
"We're seeing strength across the labour market, particularly in the industries that provide services,"industry and labour statistics manager Diane Ramsay said. "The unemployment rate has been falling and employment rising for the last 18 months, with both now at levels last seen in early 2009."
Annual wage inflation, as measured by the labour cost index (LCI) salary and ordinary time wage rates, remained steady at 1.6 per cent in the December 2013 quarter. Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the QES, rose 2.9 per cent over the year - up from 2.6 per cent in the September quarter.
NZ HERALD
