The NZCTU actively works with its affiliates to build a high-wage, high-skill, low-carbon economy in which good work is available to all.
For decades, Aotearoa New Zealand has underinvested in our people and infrastructure, and workers have been denied their fair share of economic growth.
The NZCTU’s policy work focuses on how Aotearoa New Zealand can address its major economic challenges of low wages, climate change, and infrastructure, and how we can build a productive economy in which all workers thrive.
Latest Economy News
- Monthly Employment Data shows weakness in economy
Monthly employment data released today by Statistics New Zealand showed our continuing labour market weakness, and particularly challenging conditions for young working people, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig… Read More »Monthly Employment Data shows weakness in economy - Falling Inflation Reflects a Falling Economy
Data released by Stats NZ today showed inflation slowed to an annual rate of 2.2%, reflecting lower petrol prices and a weaker economy, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data… Read More »Falling Inflation Reflects a Falling Economy - Accounts show Government choosing pain over a plan
“The Government accounts released today show that spending and debt continues to grow under the current Government, but there is no plan to deliver a better economy,” said NZCTU Te… Read More »Accounts show Government choosing pain over a plan - OCR decision a welcome relief for working people
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney said the decision by the Reserve Bank to cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points (0.5%) to 4.75% will be a… Read More »OCR decision a welcome relief for working people - Gender Pay Gap Not Closing
Evidence released by the NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi today shows that the gender pay gap is not closing quickly enough. “Calculations of official data show that women are paid 8.9%… Read More »Gender Pay Gap Not Closing - GDP numbers show economic worries are real and need a solution
Data released by Stats NZ today showed that the size of the economy fell -0.2% in the June Quarter. CTU Economist Craig Renney said “GDP in June was smaller than… Read More »GDP numbers show economic worries are real and need a solution
Economic Bulletin
The Economic Bulletin provides a worker’s perspective on the New Zealand economy. In each issue, we analyse the latest economic data, examine trends in the New Zealand economy, and discuss policies that will improve outcomes for working people.
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Previous Issues
- Economic Bulletin October – November 2024
Welcome to the October/November 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we look at the current state of the labour market, how it has changed since 2022, and how it… Read More »Economic Bulletin October – November 2024 - Economic Bulletin August/September 2024
Welcome to the August/September 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we provide an analysis of the gender pay gap in New Zealand for 2024. The mean gender pay gap… Read More »Economic Bulletin August/September 2024 - Economic Bulletin July 2024
Welcome to the July 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we discuss the child poverty reduction targets announced by the government recently. Under the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018,… Read More »Economic Bulletin July 2024 - Economic Bulletin June 2024
Welcome to the June 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we compare the current, ‘post-COVID’, recession to the other significant recessions of the last three-and-a-half decades: the 1991-92 recession,… Read More »Economic Bulletin June 2024 - Economic Bulletin May 2024
Welcome to the May 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we look at the coalition government’s first Budget, and what it means for working people. We break down what… Read More »Economic Bulletin May 2024 - Economic Bulletin April 2024
Welcome to the April 2024 NZCTU Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we look at the link between economic insecurity and support for populist political parties. Populism is typically defined… Read More »Economic Bulletin April 2024
Budget 23
This is a Budget written in the shadow of an election that will likely define Aotearoa New Zealand for decades to come. It is also a Budget written against the backdrop of inflation, the climate crisis, and other profound challenges for our country.
Budget 2023 shows that the government’s accounts are in a strong position and that our short-term economic position is relatively robust. Much of this Budget is set to ease inflation, with 79% of total costs used just to keep the lights on – against 69% last year and around 50% historically. Government is making some highly targeted investments that will ease cost-of-living pressures, improve living standards for lower-income households, and support science and innovation.
However, government is still hiding behind fiscal indicators instead of delivering the kinds of transformational change that we need. Aotearoa New Zealand should be moving the structural levels of taxation and spending to those we see in the countries that we compare ourselves to.
Policy Topics
