Underutilised workers in New Zealand: characteristics, transience and earnings trajectories

This study aims to better understand the various labour market groups in New Zealand who want jobs or more hours of work, known as the underutilised workforce. The underutilised comprise three sub-groups: the underemployed, the unemployed and the potential labour force. The underemployed are further disaggregated into full-time and part-time workers. The former of these sub-groups are not traditionally included in official underutilisation statistics, but this research separates out this group to understand its characteristics and prevalence. This study analyses the composition and...  [+] Show more

This study aims to better understand the various labour market groups in New Zealand who want jobs or more hours of work, known as the underutilised workforce. The underutilised comprise three sub-groups: the underemployed, the unemployed and the potential labour force. The underemployed are further disaggregated into full-time and part-time workers. The former of these sub-groups are not traditionally included in official underutilisation statistics, but this research separates out this group to understand its characteristics and prevalence. This study analyses the composition and characteristics of the underutilised workforce, the likelihood of movement in and out of this group and the reasons for underemployment. It also presents findings on the earnings trajectories of underemployed workers relative to fully-utilised workers over the time period affected by [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 compared to before the pandemic.

Excerpt from publication.