9. STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has he received on the number of people receiving the unemployment benefit?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
I can advise that at the end of May the number of people receiving the unemployment benefit has decreased to 41,000. That is 9,000 fewer people receiving the unemployment benefit than at the same time a year ago, and it is 120,000 fewer people receiving the unemployment benefit than there were when this Labour-led Government first came into office in 1999. That is a 75 percent reduction in unemployment benefit numbers under our Government.