There's been an increase in businesses asking for advice around redundancy and resizing is being seen by the Employers and Manufacturers Association. 

Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in the June quarter, up from 4.4% the previous.  

It's one factor the Reserve Bank considers when weighing up whether to cut the Official Cash Rate. 

The EMA's Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge businesses are asking them the right way to downsize because they don't have the work for employees.  

He says he'd expected it to start heading the other way, but they just hit a record 163 calls in the month of July. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• OCR cut less likely as unemployment rises
• Unemployment rose to 4.6% in the June quarter. But will that prompt a rate cut?