Unemployment levels in the Eastern Bay of Plenty are at their lowest level for a number of years at 5.5% which is however higher than the NZ average. The number of people employed in the Whakatane district declined by 0.5% between 2003 and 2004. The numbers employed in forestry halved in this period which reflects a nationwide trend as the forestry industry went into a slump. The restructuring in the pulp and paper industry also resulted in a significant decrease in employment in the manufacturing sector. This is based on Statistics New Zealand Business demographic statistics information.

Numbers employed in retail and business services have increased and there is an increase in numbers in the education sector.

The agriculture sector provides significant employment in Whakatane District. The Statistics New Zealand 2004 Business Demography Data for Agriculture shows employee numbers of 1090 however these may not include working farm owners unless they are on a wage system. With 1002 farms in the district and the trend for these to be run by working farmers then numbers engaged in agricultural activity is likely to be double.

49% (530) are employed in dairy cattle farming and 38% (410) employed in horticulture and fruit growing.

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