The national unemployment rate has risen in the last quarter, and is now almost 6%.

But there are also more people entering the labour force, driving employment up in some regions.

Over the last year there's been an increase in the number of people in employment overall.

Auckland and Canterbury jobs are contributing the most to that trend.

Annual wage inflation, as measured by the labour cost index, has also increased.

It's up 1.8% compared with a more modest annual consumer price inflation.

Average hourly earnings have also increased in the last year.