Have your say: Youth unemployment soaring as NZ could mirror 'lost generation'

Friday, 29 May 2026

Support agencies report being overwhelmed by young people desperate for work as even basic roles now require previous certifications or experience.

Young New Zealanders are facing an increasingly brutal job market as traditional entry-level roles shrink and youth unemployment reaches critical levels.

The crisis mirrors a trend in the United Kingdom, where an interim review by former minister Alan Milburn warned of a “lost generation” facing shrinking job opportunities.

In New Zealand, recent data from Stats NZ shows the proportion of people aged 15 to 24 not in employment, education, or training (NEET) has hit a 10-year high of 14.4%. The situation is even more acute in some regions, with an RNZ report on an analysis by data consultancy Dot Loves Data revealing the youth NEET rate has soared to 42.8% in Ōpōtiki and 39.5% in Kawerau.

Zion Tiaki struggled to find a job for 18 months.

The struggle is felt personally by school leavers like former Naenae College head boy Zion Tiaki, who faced an 18-month stretch of unemployment.

He told Stuff the experience left him feeling small and questioning his own worth after encountering constant rejections from potential employers.

Economists and business experts state that automation, artificial intelligence, and a wider labour market downturn mean entry positions are actively disappearing or changing. Support agencies report being overwhelmed by young people desperate for work as even basic roles now require previous certifications or experience.

Have your say

Are you or your children struggling to secure an entry-level job? What needs to change to give young people a fair go?

Share your experiences in the comments section. If you’re using the Stuff app on iOS you’ll need to view Stuff.co.nz on a browser to view and post comments.