There's hopes the Iran war won't bring a big bump in unemployment.

Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.3 percent in the March quarter, down from 5.4 percent in the three months to December.

Infometrics expect it'll rise again throughout 2026.

Principal Economist, Brad Olsen, says they're not expecting any mass firings.

"It's more that those hiring intentions are likely to be more subdued - i.e., businesses probably won't be as keen to hire into the future just because of how uncertain things are." 

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