More Action on Jobs
Unemployment has gone up sharply under a National Government. Sure there have been tough times from the global financial crisis and earthquakes – but the Government has not done enough to support job creation and reduce unemployment.
- Unemployment has remained persistently high with 157,000 people (or 6.6 percent) of people out of work compared with 90,000 in June 2008. The jobless number which includes those discouraged from looking for work is 254,300 people.There are 55,661 people on unemployment benefit now compared with 17,700 in 2008.
- There are also 97,600 part timers seeking additional hours of work to make ends meet.
- Youth unemployment is sky-high to 23.4 percent, Maori unemployment has gone up to 15.1 percent and Pacific people have an unemployment rate of 13.8 percent.
- The Government said in 2009 there would be 4,000 jobs from a cycleway but just over 200 have resulted so far.
- The Government has axed over 2,000 jobs from the public service.
- In 2005, New Zealand had the lowest rate of unemployment of any country in the OECD. Now we have slipped to 12th equal lowest.
