New Zealand election 2026: graduate jobs and part-time workers

For someone studying at tertiary level, renting a room, working part-time and relying on a student loan, two questions matter: Will there be a job when you graduate, and will your rights and income be protected while you're studying?

New Zealand's 2026 general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November 2026, with advance voting beginning on 26 October. The parties differ both on how to create jobs and on how much legal protection workers should have. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next governmentPolicies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

Here's a comparison of the main parties' published proposals and records, based on information available as of 16 October 2026. Some policies are still being announced, so a proposal should not be confused with an existing entitlement.

1. What are parties proposing about graduate jobs?

Labour

Labour has promised a job guarantee for eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurses, with positions in the public health system. The proposed scheme aims to offer around 2,400 graduates a year a job of at least 0.8 full-time equivalent. Labour also proposes expanding Apprenticeship Boost to support 30,000 more people into on-the-job training, plus a $1,000 tools grant for apprentices and tradies. Labour pledges guaranteed jobs for NZ-graduated nursesLabour's Cost of Living Plan

What it means for you: a direct employment commitment if you're training to be a nurse; broader apprenticeship support if you're entering a trade. It is not a guarantee of employment for all graduates.

National

National's approach focuses on economic growth, business investment, infrastructure and reducing barriers to building and development, with the aim of supporting employment. It has also proposed reducing compulsory student-loan repayments for New Zealand-based borrowers from 12% to 10% of income above the repayment threshold from April 2027. Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 ElectionThe main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government

What it means for you: the jobs strategy is economy-wide rather than a general graduate job guarantee. The loan proposal would leave eligible graduates with more take-home pay, but the debt would take longer to repay.

Green Party

The Greens have proposed a job guarantee programme focused on ecosystem regeneration, alongside workforce and vocational-training initiatives. Their wider economic approach puts more emphasis on public investment, environmental work and supporting people through social programmes. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising

What it means for you: potentially relevant if you're interested in conservation or environmental work. Check the programme's eligibility, number of jobs and funding details before assuming it would create a position for you.

ACT

ACT emphasises private-sector growth, deregulation and a smaller government as its route to more jobs and higher wages. This differs from direct government-backed employment schemes: its approach relies more on businesses creating opportunities. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next governmentElection policy tracker: what the parties are promising

What it means for you: the expected benefit is through overall job creation, rather than a specific promise that graduates will receive a job offer.

Te Pāti Māori

Its platform includes Māori-led job training and funding, with a broader focus on improving economic outcomes for Māori. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising

What it means for you: the training proposals may be relevant depending on your circumstances and the programmes' eligibility rules. They are not a universal graduate employment guarantee.

New Zealand First

NZ First puts emphasis on protecting domestic jobs and industries and restricting migration where it considers that local workers can fill vacancies. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next governmentNZ First’s employer work visa reset sounds dramatic. The detail is less revolutionary

What it means for you: the focus is on who fills available jobs and the conditions for employing migrant workers, rather than a broad graduate job guarantee.

2. What are parties proposing about part-time workers' rights?

This is particularly relevant if you depend on shifts to pay rent and living costs, and need your employer to accommodate lectures, assignments or exams.

One important distinction: some changes have already become law, while other changes are election promises about what parties would reverse or retain.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) asked parties about worker protections in its October 2026 election scorecards. National and ACT declined to answer its questionnaire, so the council's entries for those parties are based on their public statements and legislative records. The scorecards reflect the union's perspective; the underlying legislative changes can also be checked against official government sources. Policy scorecards for working people NZCTUEmployment Relations Act changes take effect today

Issue affecting you	Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori	National and ACT	New Zealand First
Minimum wage	Support increases above inflation over the next three years.	ACT supports freezing the minimum wage; National's position on that specific commitment is listed as unclear by the NZCTU.	Supports increases above inflation over the next three years, according to the NZCTU.
90-day trial periods	Support abolishing them.	Support retaining them.	Opposes abolishing them.
Fair Pay Agreements	Support restoring sector-wide bargaining over pay and conditions.	Opposed their restoration.	Opposes restoring them.
Contractor versus employee status	Support reversing the 2026 changes that make it harder for some workers to challenge their classification.	Support the changes already enacted.	Opposes reversing those changes, according to the NZCTU.
Personal grievance protections	Support reversing the 2026 changes.	Support the changes already enacted.	Opposes reversing the changes, according to the NZCTU.
Sick leave and holiday pay	Support repealing the new Employment Leave Act before it takes effect.	Support the new law.	Opposes repealing the new law, according to the NZCTU.

Sources: NZCTU's October 2026 scorecards and official Employment New Zealand guidance. These are party positions, not a guarantee of what a future government will enact. Policy scorecards for working people NZCTUEmployment Relations Act changes take effect today

What those differences mean in everyday life

• If your pay is close to minimum wage: the parties' positions on inflation-adjusted increases or a freeze could affect how well your earnings keep up with living costs.
• If you're on a new job or casual shifts: a 90-day trial can affect your ability to challenge a dismissal. Under current rules, trial periods can last up to 90 calendar days, must be agreed to in writing before work starts, and limit some dismissal claims. Trial periods
• If you're treated as a contractor: the 2026 employment-law changes introduced a gateway test that can make it harder for some workers to establish that they are legally employees. That distinction can affect employment protections and entitlements. Employment Relations Act changes take effect todayEmployment Relations Amendment Act 2026
• If you rely on sick leave or holiday pay: the parties differ on whether to repeal or retain the new Employment Leave Act. The practical effect depends on its commencement date and the final rules that apply to your employment.
• If you want collective bargaining or union support: restoring Fair Pay Agreements would allow sector-wide negotiations over minimum terms. Under the current rules, the previous 30-day requirement for new employees to start on collective-agreement terms has been removed. Policy scorecards for working people NZCTUEmployment Relations Act changes take effect today

One caution: part-time work does not automatically mean fewer employment rights. Your legal entitlements depend on whether you're an employee or contractor, your agreement, your work pattern and the specific entitlement. The election differences concern the rules that apply to workers, not simply the number of hours they work.

3. Which policies could help while you're still studying?

Graduate employment is important, but you also need to make it through your course without work taking over your study time. These additional proposals may affect your finances before you graduate.

Party	Relevant student or cost-of-living policy
Labour	Proposes reducing student debt by 10% from April 2027, or for students who stay and work in New Zealand for three years after completing their studies; also proposes public transport fare caps. Labour's Cost of Living Plan
Greens	Have proposed restoring Fees Free and moving towards debt-free tertiary education, alongside broader living-cost support. Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election
National	Proposes lowering compulsory student-loan repayments for eligible borrowers based in New Zealand after they start earning above the repayment threshold. Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election
ACT	Proposes allowing students to opt out of compulsory student services fees, potentially reducing costs for students who choose to do so. Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election
Te Pāti Māori	Proposes making the first $30,000 earned tax-free, which could affect the tax paid by eligible people working while studying. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026
New Zealand First	Its specific tertiary-finance proposals are less developed in the current published student-policy comparisons. Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election

These measures have different eligibility conditions and timeframes. In particular, a proposal to reduce student debt after graduation won't necessarily help with this week's rent or the hours you need to work this semester.

4. How to compare the parties for your own situation

Rather than looking for a party that promises to solve everything, consider these four questions:

• Workload: Which policies might help you reduce paid hours without falling behind on rent and essentials?
• Pay: Do you prioritise minimum-wage increases, stronger sector-wide bargaining, or an approach focused on business growth?
• Job security: How important are protections against dismissal, clear employee status, sick leave and holiday pay?
• After graduation: Would a job guarantee in your field, more apprenticeship opportunities, or broader private-sector job creation be most relevant?

You can explore the full party policies using Policy.nz's 2026 election guide and compare the worker-protection proposals in the NZCTU's 2026 election scorecards.

One final point: the party vote determines each party's share of seats in Parliament, while your electorate vote chooses your local representative. You can use each vote to express different priorities. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

The key question for your circumstances is this: would you most like government policy to help you work fewer hours while studying, earn more and have stronger protections in your current job, or find secure work in your field after graduation? Those priorities overlap, but the parties' proposals address them in different ways.