Source: Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure
4,689 individuals worked in the Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industries across 2021, and nearly two thirds of these were employees. Monthly counts of employees peak over November and December for both the Horse Farming industry and Horse and Dog Racing Administration and Track Operation industries. The Equine, Greyhounds and Racing workforce is not as ethnically diverse as other workforces across Muka Tangata industries and has a higher percentage of older workers, although those working in the other Horse and Dog Racing Activities industry have a younger age profile. The workforce is concentrated across three key regions: the Waikato, Canterbury, and Auckland regions.
Just under half the people working in the Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industries in 2021 worked in Horse Farming (breeding and agistment), with similar numbers working in Other Horse and Dog Racing Activities and Horse and Dog Racing Administration and Track Operation. Since 2018, there has been a steady decrease in the total number of workers in all three industries within the Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industry group.
Over one third of those working in Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industries in 2021 were either self-employed or working as an employer, however, there are significant differences between industries. For example, in Horse and Dog Racing Administration and Track Operation there were very few employers and a much larger proportion of self-employed workers.
Across the Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industries there are seasonal peaks in the number of employees per month, which are highest in November and December. These seasonal cycles are relevant for employees in Horse and Dog Racing Administration and Track Operation and Horse Farming, but there is no seasonal pattern in employee counts for Other Horse and Dog Racing Activities.