Employment plays an important role in well-being. For most people, income from paid work is the main factor determining their material standard of living. Income saved during their working life contributes to the standard of living of many retired people.
There is a strong and well established link between unemployment and health. Unemployment causes poor health and poor health increases the probability of unemployment. 2003 research project found that exposure to unemployment was associated with significantly increased risks of mental health problems, suicidal tendencies and crime.
Unemployment rates in Christchurch have fluctuated over the last twenty years, from a high of 10.2 per cent in 1991 to a low of 2.8 per cent in 2006. This is in line with national and regional trends. In the June 2010 quarter, overall unemployment in Christchurch was 6.8%, but there were substantial differences between ethnic groups. Europeans had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.4%, while Māori and Pacific people had rates more than three times higher at 16.4% and 14.1% respectively. Asian and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African unemployment rates were also higher than that for Europeans, at 10.5% and 9.0% respectively.
Youth unemployment is also high: nationally, one quarter of 15-19-year-olds were unemployed in 2009. Those with no qualifications are most likely to be unemployed.
Read the full issue summary on employment [PDF] - last updated May 2013.