This graph shows the steady movement of women into paid work from 1896 to the 2000s, when they were nearly 50% of the labour force. Over time the groups counted shift, and the trend is shown rather than a consistent dataset. Māori were not included until 1951; from 1945, those employed less than 20 hours per week were not included; and from 1986 to 1996 those employed for less than 30 hours per week were not included. As women were more likely than men to work part-time, the number employed was understated.