New Zealand Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
New Zealand's services employment was 74.64% in 2025, ranked 145th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's services employment stood at 74.64% in 2025, a rise of +0.23% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 74.81% by 2026. New Zealand ranked 145th globally.
New Zealand’s services sector employed 74.64 percent of its total workforce in 2025, placing the country 145th in the World Bank ranking and just shy of the all‑time peak of 74.66 percent recorded in 2019. The indicator has risen steadily from a low of 64.37 percent in 1994, the trough in the series, to the current level after 35 years of expansion, reflecting the country’s long‑standing shift toward a knowledge‑intensive economy and the gradual decline of primary‑sector jobs. The pace of growth has been modest since the 2010s, with the 2025 figure only 0.02 percentage points below the 2019 high, suggesting that the sector is approaching a saturation point. By comparison, peer economies such as Saudi Arabia (74.43 percent) and Mauritius (74.67 percent) exhibit similar service‑employment shares, underscoring a broader global trend toward service‑dominant labour markets. Continued investment in high‑skill services and digital infrastructure will be crucial if New Zealand seeks to push the employment share beyond its recent ceiling.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 75.35% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 75.08% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 74.81% | - | - |
| 2025 | 74.64% | +0.23% | #145 |
| 2024 | 74.41% | +0.56% | #146 |
| 2023 | 73.85% | +0.65% | #145 |
| 2022 | 73.20% | −0.71% | #145 |
| 2021 | 73.91% | +0.31% | #150 |
| 2020 | 73.60% | −1.06% | #148 |
| 2019 | 74.66% | +0.56% | #152 |
| 2018 | 74.10% | +1.06% | #152 |
| 2017 | 73.04% | −0.08% | #150 |
| 2016 | 73.12% | +1.23% | #151 |
| 2015 | 71.90% | −1.03% | #148 |
| 2014 | 72.92% | −0.36% | #152 |
| 2013 | 73.29% | +0.39% | #153 |
| 2012 | 72.90% | +0.22% | #152 |
| 2011 | 72.69% | +0.52% | #152 |
Analysis
New Zealand's services employment was 74.64% in 2025, a rise of +0.23% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 74.81% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's services employment was 74.64% in 2025. Ranked 145th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
New Zealand's services employment peaked at 74.66% in 2019.
The lowest services employment in New Zealand was 64.37% in 1994.
New Zealand ranks 145th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's services employment is projected to reach 74.81% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of New Zealand in 2025 was 74.64%. This ranks 145th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_services-employment,
title = {New Zealand Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}