A listing of recent publications from the Department of Labour. A full list of the Department's regular publications can be found in the Labour Market Section.

Working Long Hours in New Zealand: A Profile of Long Hours Workers Using Data From The 2006 Census 2008-07-24
This paper outlines a demographic profile of New Zealanders who work long hours using data from the 2006 Census. The research indicates that a significant proportion of the total workforce are working 50 hours or more per week, and that employees in particular industries and occupations are at greater risk of working long hours.

Annual In depth Regional Labour Market Reports 2008-07-15
A series of reports covering 12 regions presenting an analysis of regional and sub-regional labour market characteristics, specifically focusing on youth.

Safe Use of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants 2008-07-15
This fact sheet provides information about the need for safe design of plant and control systems, adequate maintenance, and safe operation practices when using hydrocarbon refrigerants.

Tuning Into our Times 2008-07-09
An innovation discussion document which explores the ways in which change in a number of elements of society and the economy was affecting the supply and demand for labour

Immigration Research Programme: Summary of Findings 2007 2008-06-30
This publication summarises findings from a range of immigration related research undertaken by the Department of Labour since July 2004 until December 2007.

Migration Trends 2006/07 2008-06-30
The Migration Trends report is the seventh in an annual series and provides an overview of immigration trends for the 2006/07 financial year. The report is used by the Department to inform immigration policy, marketing strategies and settlement services, and is a useful resource to government departments and the wider public.

Housing Markets and Migration: Evidence from New Zealand 2008-06-06
This paper investigates the relationship between changes in population size and housing sale prices and rents in local areas. Population change is broken down into new immigrants, New Zealanders returning from abroad and New Zealanders and previous immigrants moving from other regions within New Zealand. Data is combined from the 1991 to 2006 censuses, Quotable Value New Zealand and the Department of Building and Housing.

The Economic Impact of Immigration on Housing in New Zealand 1991–2016 2008-06-06
A descriptive analysis of trends using the 1991 to 2006 censuses found that the number of new households being created between censuses has been relatively stable (ranging from 80,000 between 1996 and 2001 to 109,000 between 2001 and 2006).

International Trade Negotiations and the Trans-Border Movement of People: A Review of the Literature 2008-05-30
This report reviews the international and New Zealand literatures on the interaction between enhancing cross-border trade and investment, through negotiations and agreements, and international migration.

High Performance Workplace Practices in APEC Economies 2008-05-28
In August 2007 representatives from nine APEC economies met to share their experience in High Performance Workplace Practices (HPWP). Many of the practices discussed (training, performance pay, flexible work arrangements, using teams, and employee involvement) are part of the seven workplace productivity drivers. Canada, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Chile, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, China and New Zealand attended the workshop along with an ILO observer, New Zealand academics, and representatives from several New Zealand government departments. The workshop focused on how economies were encouraging the adoption of HPWP. As part of the project APEC economies were asked to respond to a questionnaire on their use of HPWP. The findings from economy responses are set out in the following report.

Incident Alert - King Hitter Post Driver 2008-05-26
A farm employee suffered severe crushing injuries to his hand when the 15kg Post Cap of the post rammer fell onto his hand. Users of older models of a King Hitter Post Driver may need to take remedial action if their machine is similar or the same.

Statement of Intent 2008-05-22
The Department of Labour’s Statement of Intent 2008-12, "Our plan to keep New Zealand working," outlines the Department's progress in improving labour market outcomes for the benefit of all New Zealanders and the economy.

Life in New Zealand: Settlement Experiences of Skilled Migrants Results from the 2007 Survey 2008-05-19
This report details the findings from the 2007 Settlement Experience Feedback Survey (SEFS) of migrants who took up residence in New Zealand through the Skilled/Business Stream from January 2006 to June 2006. The survey is sent out to these migrants 12 months after residence approval or arrival into New Zealand. Therefore, these migrants were surveyed from 1 January 2007 to 31 June 2007. This report also contains information on trends (from 2005 to 2007) on the key settlement outcomes of principal applicants.

Joint MoE/DoL National Survey of International Students 2008-05-13
The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Department of Labour, is releasing its second (2007) National Survey of International Students report. The research was conducted by Deloitte under contract to the Ministry of Education.

Joint MSD/DoL Quarterly Regional Labour Market Reports 2008-05-13
The regional reports convey key labour market information on twelve regions of New Zealand. They include annual trends in labour force participation, employment rates and unemployment rates from Statistics New Zealand's Household Labour Force Survey, job vacancy trends from the Department of Labour's Job Vacancy Monitor and benefit figures from the Ministry of Social Development's beneficiary records.

Wage Growth 2008-05-05
This note examines the wage growth measures for the March 2008 quarter from the Labour Cost Index (LCI) and the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) which were released by Statistics New Zealand on 5 May 2008.

Health outcomes in former New Zealand timber workers exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP)  2008-04-30
Concerns remain about chronic health problems experienced by former timber workers who were exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP) when it was used as an anti-sapstain fungicide treatment in saw mills.

Why Workplaces Matter 2008-04-14
This paper provides an overview of recent literature outlining the contribution of workplace practices to improved performance for individual firms and the economy as a whole. The paper examines the “high performance workplace systems” model and summarises some of the key debates about its impact on firm performance. The paper concludes by putting forward the reasons why improving workplace practices is a matter for public policy.

Settlement Patterns and the Geographic Mobility of Recent Migrants to New Zealand 2008-04-14
As part of the Economic Impacts of Immigration working paper series, this research evaluates what draws migrants to live in particular areas and how these patterns of settlement have changed over time.

The Skills-Productivity Nexus : Connecting Industry Training and Business Performance 2008-04-11
This report has been written as part of a joint Department of Labour/Industry Training Federation project aimed at improving the ability of Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to assist workplaces to raise their productivity. The report sets out results of a literature scan exploring the links between skills, their application, and productivity, and also documents the experience of a number of manufacturing ITOs in expanding the breadth of their services beyond skills development.

Current Trends, Process and Practice in Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution 2008-04-11
This literature review is focusing on current national and international trends in mediation and dispute resolution and comment on any processes and practices that support professionals in the delivery of quality dispute resolution services, particularly those within a statutory context.

Underground Mining Discussion Document 2008-04-03
Underground mining is an important part of New Zealand’s economy and history. However, working in an underground coal or metalliferous mine can be hazardous, with the potential for catastrophic incidents. It is vital that good health and safety practices are in place – because people’s lives depend on them. The Department of Labour would like your feedback on effective ways to improve the identification and management of hazards in the underground mining industry.

A synthesis of foundation learning evaluation and research in New Zealand since 2003 2008-04-03
This synthesis provides an overview of research and evaluation information drawn from all recent New Zealand adult literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) initiatives. The report was commissioned by the Department of Labour to inform the Upskilling Partnership project, which is researching approaches to engage employers in workplace literacy, language and numeracy programmes, to help raise their productivity.

Findings from the Survey of Information Technology Recruiters 2008  2008-03-31
The Survey of Information Technology (IT) Recruiters 2008 explored the degree of difficulty that recruiting and contracting agencies have in finding candidates to fill specific IT occupations and specialisations.

Skill Shortages: Occupations in Shortage in New Zealand 2008-03-19
This report presents a summary of key findings from the 2007 Survey of Employers who have Recently Advertised (SERA). The purpose of this annual survey is to identify which occupations in New Zealand are currently in shortage.

Female labour market outcomes - 2008 2008-03-11
This is the second annual report on female labour market outcomes in New Zealand. It focuses on changes to female labour market outcomes over the past five years.

Health and Safety Makes Good Business Sense 2008-02-29
The department commissioned this research to investigate whether investment in health and safety positively affects business performance and productivity.

Skills in the Labour Market 2008-02-28
Skill shortage indicators in the Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (QSBO) increased in the December 2007 quarter with firms continuing to report significant difficulty finding both skilled and unskilled labour.

Quarterly Migration Update 2008-02-22
There was a net migration inflow of 5,500 in the year to December 2007, down from 14,600 a year earlier.

A Synthesis of Foundation Learning Evaluation and Research in New Zealand since 2003 2008-02-13
This synthesis provides an overview of research and evaluation information drawn from all recent New Zealand adult literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) initiatives.

The Workplace Literacy Fund - A review 2008-02-13
This review provides a snapshot of employers and providers who ran a programme funded through the Workplace Literacy Fund in 2006. It highlights the characteristics of the employers who chose to participate, the issues that led to them to consider a programme and the benefits they gained. It describes the challenges employers and providers face in engaging in workplace literacy.

Labour Market Factsheets 2008-02-08
The Department of Labour's factsheets give quick facts about key interest groups in the New Zealand Labour Market. There are factsheets on Maori, Pacific Peoples, Females, Youth and Older Workers.

Joint MSD/DoL Regional Reports 2008-02-08
Regionally, the labour force participation rate grew the most in Taranaki, increasing from 67.8% in the year to December 2006 to reach 69.3% in the year to December 2007. This growth was followed by Auckland where the participation rate grew from 67.2% to reach 68.0% over the same period.

Employment and Unemployment 2008-02-07
- The number of people employed increased by 1.1%, or 23,000, to 2,173,000 in the December 2007 quarter.

Wage Growth 2008-02-05
Latest figures show wage growth remained very strong in the December 2007 quarter.

Job Vacancy Monitoring Report - December 2007 2008-01-22
Highly skilled vacancies rose by 10% and IT vacancies rose by 22% in December 2007 compared to a year ago.

Managing shift work to minimise workplace fatigue 2007-12-13
This publication defines fatigue, examines the causes of workplace fatigue, and explains how recovery happens. Then it presents and explains 12 key facts about workplace fatigue and highlights the implications of these facts for employers.

Employment, Earnings and Income Statistics 2007-12-12
Linked Employer-Employee Dataset (LEED)statistics show earnings disparities between men and women and also shed light on the different patterns of movement between earnings groups. LEED also provides new information on employment growth in different industries and for the self-employed.