Businesses appear to be reducing full-time hires - at a time unemployment has stayed static

Stats NZ says the number of full-time workers fell 45 thousand over the year, and part-time employment grew by 25 thousand.

The unemployment rate was unchanged on 5.1 percent for the three months ended March.

Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, says that may give the Reserve Bank pause for thought.

He says he originally thought they'd have to do a 50 basis point cut this month, but that's less likely now.