The upcoming unemployment rate is expected to reflect a difficult period for the economy

Stats NZ data out this morning is picked to show rates increased to around 5.2-percent, during the March quarter.

It could hit its highest point since 2016.

ASB senior economist Mark Smith says the economy has lost around 30 thousand jobs in the last 12 months.

He says a lot of the losses have impacted young people as well as construction and wider goods sectors.

Those numbers are due around 10.45am