Women join workforce in record numbers

A fall in the unemployment rate, bringing it close to a 20-year low, has seen more women join the labour force than ever before, latest Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) figures released today show.

The figures show 60.9 per cent of women of working age are employed in some way, the highest proportion ever recorded.

This compares with 74.8 per cent of men.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said when opening Parliament in February that raising the participation rate by getting more women in work was a Government goal as part of the effort to lift living standards.

SNZ said the unemployment rate fell to 3.7 per cent from 3.9 per cent -- the second lowest ratio since the department began its surveys in 1986.

Economists were somewhat surprised by the ongoing resilience of the labour market.

"The labour market is obviously a bit stronger than we were expecting," said ANZ-National Bank Senior Economist Sean Comber.

On an annual basis, unemployment rates for males actually increased by 3.3 per cent, but for females it decreased by a whopping 16.2 per cent.

The change was mainly fuelled by an increase in the number of women in full-time employment.

Mr Comber noted that there was also a switch to full-time from part-time employment.

Women's Affairs Minister Ruth Dyson welcomed the strong growth in female full-time employment.

"These results point to women playing a greater role in the New Zealand economy.

"Labour's investment in paid parental leave, childcare and quality early childhood education are helping to ensure going to work is a real choice for all New Zealanders -- men and women," Ms Dyson said.

Citigroup economist Zach Witton suggests the rise in labour force participation was due to a perception that jobs were easily available.

"The small rise in participation rates suggests the tightness of the labour market is continuing to persuade previously discouraged job seekers to re-enter the labour force," Mr Witton said.

The latest figures have placed New Zealand at number one in the OECD.

- NZPA