New Zealand's unemployment rate is down to a record low of 77,000 people or 3.4 per cent of the work force in the December quarter, the lowest unemployment rate recorded since the Household Labour Force Survey started in 1986

The working age population rose 11,700 to 3.27 million in the December quarter due to positive permanent and long term migration figures.

New Zealand's unemployment rate is fifth lowest in the OECD, and compares with 5.5 per cent for the whole of the OECD.