Economists are divided on whether unemployment is finally starting to fall
Economists are divided on whether unemployment is finally starting to fall
4 February 2026
Stats NZ is releasing its latest employment update at 10.45.
Economic conditions are improving, but that's also prompting more people to re-join the labour market.
Most bank economists expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged from three months ago - at an historically high 5.3 percent.
But ASB economists think it will fall slightly to 5.2 percent - the first fall in unemployment in four years.
© 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity
