NZ unemployment falls to three-year low in 4Q as jobs growth beats estimates

NZ unemployment falls to three-year low in 4Q as jobs growth beats estimates
By Paul McBeth Feb. 5 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand’s unemployment rate fell to a three-year low in the fourth quarter of 2013 as jobs growth beat expectations, led by gains in the retail, accommodation and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31, in line with the forecast by a Reuters survey of economists, and down from 6.2 percent in the September quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand’s household labour force survey. That’s the lowest jobless rate since June 2009. Employment...