This year, she expanded her search to other industries and estimates she applied to about 70 positions in project management, communications and engagement positions at nonprofits and other organizations.

Recruitment sites showed there were hundreds of other applicants for the roles. There were almost 1,000 people available for an operations coordinator job.

He was shortlisted for seven jobs.

“I was looking for a job when the public sector cuts were starting, so I thought there would be a lot of people like me who had skills like mine and were looking for a job.”

RNZ agreed not to identify Angela because although she has now found two part-time roles, these are contract positions and she is still looking for permanent employment when their terms expire.

He said he had been on Jobseeker Support for a few months and had found dealing with Jobs and Income frustrating.

“When I first went, the caseworker told me I had to cancel a weekend work I had booked and that she would pay me. Because in order to participate in JobSeeker, I had to be ready to take any job… I was worried that if I did what they said, I would lose income and damage my reputation.”

He worked with business consultants who helped with networking and contacted everyone he worked with as a contractor to inquire about job opportunities. “There is a lot of kind support but no words.”

Another job hunter, who asked not to be named because he found a new job this week, said he was on the verge of leaving the country because it was so difficult to find a job.

He searched for a new role for five months after his contract with a government department ended.

With the arrival of the new baby, he and his family were about to put their house up for sale and try their luck in England or Dubai, if his last attempt had not been successful.

“It’s more than difficult, it’s a nightmare,” he said.

He said he often goes to an interview where he feels positive and then receives a derogatoryly generic email from the company’s human resources department.

He said he applied to 50 jobs and had nearly 25 interviews. Many times the company decided not to hire anyone at all.

“That’s a real thing too; they have this opportunity and then they actually say no, we could probably wait until the new year and put it on hold.”

New Zealand’s labor market is getting weaker. While the unemployment rate increased to 4.8% in the September quarter, the labor force participation rate decreased to 71.2% and the employment rate decreased to 67.8%.

Among those who are not working, the rate of those who say it is because they are studying increased from 50.9 percent at the beginning of the year to 57.3 percent in the third quarter of this year. However, the number of people not working due to their own illness increased from 46.6% at the beginning of the year to 50.6%. The proportion of people who say they are not looking for a job because there is no job has also increased.

Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado said the employment rate was likely to stabilize at 5.5% in the second half of next year.

“But we do not see unemployment trending downward until economic activity picks up in the second half of 2026.

“From the perspective of who is affected the most, construction is taking the brunt. Last year, construction jobs accounted for less than a quarter of total job losses. It is confirmed by what we have heard. This isn’t much of a surprise given the state of the housing market. Low prices, still high construction costs, and a still high interest rate environment are causing major downturns in construction. “And as a result, there is a lot of downsizing in construction businesses.”

He said there had also been significant job losses in professional and administrative support roles like Angela’s.

“Job losses accounted for just under 20% of total job losses last year. “There is no doubt that businesses have had to downsize due to reduced demand.”

Approximately 13% of job losses were in the retail and hospitality sector.

“But in recent data we are starting to see some recovery in consumer confidence and retail sales thanks to low interest rates, which could provide some relief. ”

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said that the increase in unemployment negatively affects especially young people.

This was especially a problem for those who had recently graduated and were ready to enter the workforce.

“Every time we have a recession, we see an impact on this group reaching workforce entry age. Career prospects are collapsing. They may not be able to find a job or apply the skills they have. “There may be a scarring effect that takes a long time to disappear.”

He said there could be a situation where a group of graduates struggle to find employment and are joined by another group the following year with whom they have to compete.

If the broader job market were tough and more experienced people were willing to do the job, this would make it harder for new entrants to compete.

In one year, the number of 15-19 year olds employed in the workforce fell by 11.7%. Those ages 20 to 24 fell 5.3 percent, and those ages 25 to 29 dropped 7.6 percent.

Recruiter Shannon Barlow, Frog’s managing director, said businesses were looking to reduce their risk when faced with more challenging circumstances and aim to get the best out of new employees, so they were more likely to choose someone with experience.

But Eaqub said he was optimistic about the future.

“Interest rates are falling, we’re working through the problems we have now, weak businesses are going under; everything that’s supposed to happen in a recession is happening.”

Businesses that can do this can position themselves now to take advantage when the recovery comes, he said.

“There are so many options and you have time to educate people so they are ready to hit the ground running when demand returns.”