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Ethnicity, Gender and Employment Status


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SMEs in New Zealand: Structure and Dynamics 2007

[ Last Updated 30 July 2007 ]


The highest proportion of self-employed is among "Other" and European populations; the lowest is recorded by Maori and Pacific Peoples.

Data from the 2006 Census show that the ethnic group with the greatest proportion classified as "self-employed without employees" are those members of the labour force classified as "other ethnic groups" (which includes the "New Zealander" and "Middle Eastern, Latin American and African" categories), with 13.8 percent. While this is an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the 2001 Census, Census 2001 and Census 2006 are not directly comparable. Census 2001 included the "New Zealand European" category, which was combined with the "European" category. Census 2006 had the "New Zealander" category for the first time, which is in the "Other" category in Table 6. Only the Maori, Asian and Pacific groups are directly comparable between Censuses. The Asian group had the only significant change in employment status from 2001 to 2006, with the proportion in paid employment rising by 4.5 percentage points and while falls were recorded in all other categories.

Table 6. Percentage of ethnic group (grouped total responses)5 by status in employment for New Zealand6
Ethnic group (grouped total resp-
onses)		 2006 Census Employment status 2001 Census Employment status
Paid empl-
oyee		 Self-empl-
oyed and without employees		 Empl-
oyer		 Unpaid family worker Paid empl-
oyee		 Self-empl-
oyed and without employees		 Empl-
oyer		 Unpaid family worker
European 77.1 12.9 7.9 2 75.9 13.4 8.4 2.3
Maori 88.3 6.5 3.3 1.9 88.1 6.5 3.1 2.2
Pacific peoples 93 4.3 1.6 1.2 92.6 4.4 1.6 1.3
Asian 78.8 12 6.5 2.7 74.3 14.3 7.4 3.9
Other7 75 13.8 9 2.2 80.1 12 5.9 2
Total 78.4 12.2 7.4 2.1 77.3 12.7 7.7 2.3

Note: This data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality.

Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different tables.

Most of the self-employed and employers are male. Females have the greatest proportion of salary earners and unpaid relatives providing care. For example, in March 2007 13.9 percent of males were self-employed, compared with 7.7 percent of females; while 87.4 percent of females were wage or salary earners, compared with 78.3 percent of males.

From March 2005 to March 2007 there has been a general increase in the numbers of both males and females who are providing unpaid assistance to relatives. This period also shows a decrease in the number of males and females who are employers. The number and proportion of those who are self-employed in both gender groups have remained relatively constant.

Table 7. Persons Employed by Employment Status (March 2005-March 2007)
Year Wage or Salary Earners Employer Self-Employed Unpaid Relative Assisting
No. (000) % No. (000) % No. (000) % No. (000) %
Male 2005 840 76.2 96.9 8.8 161.9 14.7 3.5 0.3
2006 867.2 77.1 91.7 8.2 160.4 14.3 5.3 0.5
2007 898.5 78.3 80.8 7 160 13.9 7.3 0.6
Female 2005 804.5 86.4 41.4 4.4 77.1 8.3 7.8 0.8
2006 833.6 86.7 39.8 4.1 78.3 8.1 9.3 1
2007 855.3 87.4 32 3.3 75.8 7.7 14.3 1.5
Total 2005 1644.5 80.9 138.3 6.8 238.9 11.7 11.3 0.6
2006 1700.9 81.5 131.5 6.3 238.7 11.4 14.5 0.7
2007 1753.8 82.5 112.8 5.3 235.8 11.1 21.6 1

Labour market statistics show varied results between men and women.

The Linked Employer-Employee Data (LEED) produced by Statistics New Zealand give an insight into the dynamics of the labour market.

The following tables show a selection of labour market variables relating to gender and firm size. The results are a snapshot of the December 2005 quarter. There is a general increase in all categories between the figures reported this year, and those reported in last year's Structure & Dynamics, which used data from the December 2004 quarter.

You can access LEED datasets and find more information at the Statistics New Zealand website.

Table 8. LEED Measures by Gender and Firm Size
Male Firm Size
Measures 0 1-9 10-49 50+
Mean earnings of continuing jobs - 10,360 12,620 14,740
Mean earnings of new hires - 8,310 9,100 11,240
Median earnings of continuing jobs - 9,370 11,140 12,680
Median earnings of new hires - 7,590 8,190 9,490
Total filled jobs 0 195,230 225,150 471,490
Worker turnover rate (%) - 17.6 15.9 13.7

Female Firm Size
Measures 0 1-9 10-49 50+
Mean earnings of continuing jobs - 6,540 8,340 9,770
Mean earnings of new hires - 5,190 6,070 7,600
Median earnings of continuing jobs - 5,800 7,530 9,070
Median earnings of new hires - 4,480 5,280 6,750
Total filled jobs 0 173,290 219,080 492,510
Worker turnover rate (%) - 18.2 17.5 14.9

5 Includes all of the people who stated each ethnic group, whether as their only ethnic group or as one of several ethnic groups. Where a person reported more than one ethnic group, they have been counted in each applicable group.

6 All figures are for the employed New Zealand census usually resident population aged 15 years and over.

7 Includes New Zealander and MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin American and African).


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