Economists are divided on whether unemployment is finally starting to fall

Stats NZ is releasing its latest employment update at 10.45.

Economic conditions are improving, but that's also prompting more people to re-join the labour market.

Most bank economists expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged from three months ago - at an historically high 5.3 percent.

But ASB economists think it will fall slightly to 5.2 percent - the first fall in unemployment in four years.