The economy appears to be turning a corner, and we'll learn today whether the unemployment rate will follow suit. 

Stats NZ is providing its latest employment update at 10.45am. 

Economists are divided on whether the unemployment rate will remain unchanged at the historically high 5.3%, or will dip slightly to 5.2%. 

Westpac Senior Economist Michael Gordon told Ryan Bridge jobs have started to trickle through, but it’s just enough to stabilise the rate, rather than bring it down.  

He says they’re expecting things to turn towards the middle of the year, improving over the course of the next year or so. 

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