Otago's unemployment rate is on the rise again, having dropped from a peak in early 2013.

There are now about 5,000 people within Otago's labour force that don't have jobs.

The region's labour force participation rate is sitting at just under 70%. That's only slightly higher than the regional employment rate.

Nationally unemployment's up, at around 5.9%. That's partly a result of steady population growth.

The manufacturing and construction sectors have the strongest rate of employment.