An Analysis of Disparity Between Pacific and Non-Pacific Peoples' Labour Market Outcomes in the Household Labour Force Survey

Abstract

Disparity in employment outcomes between Pacific and non-Pacific people is higher today than it was in 1985. The disparity in the employment rate increased substantially between 1986 and 1991, though has been decreasing slowly since. This paper attempts to find reasons for changes in employment rate disparity using cross-tabulated information from the Household Labour Force Survey on region, educational attainment, occupation, industry, length of time lived in New Zealand and working age population size. Our research suggests that a key reason for the increase in disparity was over-representation of Pacific people in sectors that were disproportionately affected by changes in labour demand in the late 1980s. In particular, there was decreasing demand for workers in the manufacturing industry, workers in the occupational grouping 'production and related workers' and workers with no educational qualifications. Higher Pacific population growth may also at times have had an impact on employment disparity.