Occupational and industrial change in the New Zealand workforce

Abstract

This paper examines changes in the occupational and industrial composition of the New Zealand workforce between 1956 and 1981 with particular emphasis upon white-collar employment. The reseach study from which the data are derived examined the growth and unionisation of New Zealand's white-collar workforce, and was completed in 1984 (Sn1ith. 1984). Though the main aim of the research was to examine white-collar unionism, it produced valuable data on occupational and industrial change which it is felt viould be of interest to a wider audience. Data are presented on changes to the occupational and industrial composition of the workforce, including inter-industry employment changes, the growth of white-collar occupations and the gender composition of the white-collar workforce. The paper concludes with an examination of the relative impact of industry and occupation effects upon changes in the workforce structure.