The New Zealand dollar falls as employment unexpectedly dropped for the first time in three years during the third quarter.
(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand employment unexpectedly fell for the first time in three years in the third quarter, pushing up the nation’s jobless rate and sending the currency lower.
Employment dropped 0.4 percent from the second quarter and the unemployment rate rose to 6 percent from 5.9 percent, Statistics New Zealand said Wednesday in Wellington. Economists had forecast a 0.4 percent increase in employment, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey.
Economic growth has weakened after a plunge in dairy prices curbed farm incomes and dented business confidence, while record immigration is keeping a lid on wages. Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler last week kept the official cash rate at 2.75 percent after three reductions, but said further easing is likely to be required to return inflation to the 2 percent target midpoint next year.
Today’s data “reinforce our view that the RBNZ should cut the OCR again in December,” said Nick Tuffley, chief economist at ASB Bank in Auckland. “And the risk is the OCR gets cut even lower over 2016.”
Currency Slides
The New Zealand dollar fell half a U.S. cent after the release and bought 66.66 cents at 11:25 a.m. in Wellington.
* Employment fell 11,000 in 3Q
* Working-age population increased 22,000 in 3Q
* Participation rate fell to 68.6% in 3Q from 69.3% in 2Q
* Employment rose 1.5% from year earlier vs. median forecast of 2.5% gain
“This is the second consecutive quarter that employment growth has not kept up with growth in the working-age population,” the statistics agency said.
Record immigration is making it easier for employers to fill positions without raising wages, with annual net immigration rising to 61,200 in September. Wages for non- government workers excluding overtime rose 0.4 percent from the second quarter, less than a 0.5 percent increase seen by economists.
Employment dropped 0.4 percent from the second quarter and the unemployment rate rose to 6 percent from 5.9 percent, Statistics New Zealand said Wednesday in Wellington. Economists had forecast a 0.4 percent increase in employment, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey.
Economic growth has weakened after a plunge in dairy prices curbed farm incomes and dented business confidence, while record immigration is keeping a lid on wages. Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler last week kept the official cash rate at 2.75 percent after three reductions, but said further easing is likely to be required to return inflation to the 2 percent target midpoint next year.
Today’s data “reinforce our view that the RBNZ should cut the OCR again in December,” said Nick Tuffley, chief economist at ASB Bank in Auckland. “And the risk is the OCR gets cut even lower over 2016.”
Currency Slides
The New Zealand dollar fell half a U.S. cent after the release and bought 66.66 cents at 11:25 a.m. in Wellington.
* Employment fell 11,000 in 3Q
* Working-age population increased 22,000 in 3Q
* Participation rate fell to 68.6% in 3Q from 69.3% in 2Q
* Employment rose 1.5% from year earlier vs. median forecast of 2.5% gain
“This is the second consecutive quarter that employment growth has not kept up with growth in the working-age population,” the statistics agency said.
Record immigration is making it easier for employers to fill positions without raising wages, with annual net immigration rising to 61,200 in September. Wages for non- government workers excluding overtime rose 0.4 percent from the second quarter, less than a 0.5 percent increase seen by economists.
