Seasonal factors are likely to have affected unemployment rates in the South Island during the three months ended March.
Statistics New Zealand released its Household Labour Force Survey results yesterday, showing New Zealand's unemployment rate had fallen to 4.9% in March from 5.2% in December.
The regional figures are not adjusted for any seasonal impacts, making no allowances for students leaving the area or an increase in the horticulture or viticulture industries.
The Tasman-Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast region had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in the March quarter at 2.8%. This was at a time when horticulture and viticulture work would have been at its highest in the region.
That should also mean Otago's unemployment rate would have dropped in the same period. Instead, the region went from a 4% unemployment rate in December to a 4.4% rate in March and an employment rate of 65.5% from 66%.
The period coincided with work peaking in Central Otago orchards but also when tertiary institutes were on holiday. Students are a key component of part-time work in Dunedin.
Canterbury also had a rise in unemployment from 3.7% to 4% and an employment rate falling to 69.2% in March from 70.4%.
Southland reversed the trend. Its unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in March from 5% in December. The participation rate in Southland rose to 73.3% from 72.1%.
Northland had the highest regional unemployment rate at 8%, followed by Bay of Plenty and Gisborne-Hawke's Bay, both on 7.6%.
Auckland was 5% and Wellington 4.9%.
