New Zealand Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
New Zealand's agriculture employment was 5.42% in 2025, ranked 59th globally. This represents a 2.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's agriculture employment stood at 5.42% in 2025, a decline of +0.12% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 5.20% by 2026. New Zealand ranked 59th globally.
New Zealand’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture has fallen sharply over the 35‑year series, declining from 10.77 % in 1991 to a trough of 5.42 % in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the series and ranking 59th globally. The all‑time peak of 10.84 % occurred in 1992, shortly after the early‑1990s structural reforms that reduced the relative size of primary‑sector jobs. The contraction mirrors a broader shift toward services and high‑value manufacturing, a pattern also observed in peer economies such as South Africa, where agriculture employment stood at 5.41 % in 2025. Technological adoption, farm consolidation and rising productivity have accelerated the decline, while demographic changes and urban migration have limited new labour supply to rural areas. Continued investment in agri‑technology and diversification into niche export markets could moderate the downward trajectory, but without policy incentives to retain or attract workers, the share of agricultural employment is likely to keep receding.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 4.84% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 5.02% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 5.20% | - | - |
| 2025 | 5.42% | −0.12% | #59 |
| 2024 | 5.53% | −0.08% | #59 |
| 2023 | 5.61% | −0.40% | #59 |
| 2022 | 6.01% | −0.06% | #59 |
| 2021 | 6.07% | +0.06% | #58 |
| 2020 | 6.01% | +0.19% | #57 |
| 2019 | 5.83% | −0.06% | #56 |
| 2018 | 5.89% | −0.42% | #56 |
| 2017 | 6.31% | −0.28% | #56 |
| 2016 | 6.60% | +0.48% | #55 |
| 2015 | 6.12% | −0.11% | #54 |
| 2014 | 6.23% | −0.20% | #55 |
| 2013 | 6.43% | −0.39% | #55 |
| 2012 | 6.82% | −0.11% | #56 |
| 2011 | 6.93% | +0.06% | #56 |
Analysis
New Zealand's agriculture employment was 5.42% in 2025, a decline of −0.12% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 5.20% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's agriculture employment was 5.42% in 2025. Ranked 59th globally. This represents a 2.1% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's agriculture employment peaked at 10.84% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in New Zealand was 5.42% in 2025.
New Zealand ranks 59th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's agriculture employment is projected to reach 5.20% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of New Zealand in 2025 was 5.42%. This ranks 59th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_agriculture-employment,
title = {New Zealand Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}