Unemployment is edging up in New Zealand – and charities say they’re seeing the impact first-hand
New Zealand's rising unemployment rate is coinciding with a surge in people seeking volunteer roles, with charities and international programmes reporting heightened interest they say is closely tied to tough job prospects, according to reports.
Stats NZ figures show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in the September 2025 quarter, up from 5.2% in June. The latest data points to a softening labour market as more people compete for a limited number of paid roles.
In that environment, some community organisations are observing that more people who are out of work are offering volunteer services, Radio New Zealand reported.
"It could be triggered by a redundancy or just a challenge in the job market here in New Zealand, but often it's something people have been thinking about for quite a while," Kate Wareham, CEO of Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), told RNZ.
"It's been tucked away in the back of their mind."
Last year, advocacy group Volunteering NZ made similar observations.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place," Margaret McLachlan, Volunteering NZ spokesperson, told RNZ.
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
Challenge for volunteer sector
But the rising interest is leaving some community organisations struggling to cope with the number of people offering their time.
SPCA New Zealand said last year that they had reached capacity after receiving about 1,300 extra applications for volunteer roles that year.
This was a 32% increase compared with 2024.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity – and that's very rare and it's a very new trend," SPCA general manager of retail Cathy Crichton told RNZ last year.
She acknowledged that it was "definitely a nudge forward" and they are very grateful for additional volunteer applications.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community," she added.
