National’s Choices Drive Unemployment HigherUnemployment has risen to 5.6 percent, a damning verdict on Christopher Luxon's economic management. Instead, unemployment continues to rise and Kiwis are paying the price,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. “Under National unemployment is at an 11-year high. That's the real cost of National's economic choices. "Māori and Pasifika communities continue to bear the brunt of National's failure, with unemployment remaining significantly higher than the national average at 10.8% and 11.6%.