Where are the jobs?

2.36mfilled jobs in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted), +7,227 on the month before

+1.0%on September 2025: +22,766 jobs

+3.3%average earnings per job over the last 12 months ($6,947 a month), against inflation of 3.7% to the Sep 2026 quarter

Filled jobs since 2000

Seasonally adjusted, monthly.

By industry

Change in filled jobs, September 2025 to September 2026, not seasonally adjusted. Number of jobs now on the right.

By region

By age and sex

About these numbers

Filled jobs count jobs on employers' monthly PAYE returns to Inland Revenue, so they cover almost every employee, every month. They don't include self-employed people, and someone with two jobs counts twice. The latest months are provisional and are revised as late returns arrive.

Earnings per job is total gross earnings on PAYE returns divided by filled jobs. It moves with the mix of jobs as well as pay rates; for pay rates alone, see wages.

For unemployment and people looking for work, see unemployment, which comes from a household survey.

Source: Stats NZ employment indicators (Employment indicators, September 2026).