6. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has he received on the Labour-led Government’s success at supporting people into work?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The household labour force survey figures released last Thursday show that employment in New Zealand was at a record high of 2,143,000 people in the March 2007 quarter. That means we have 347,000 more people in work than we did in December 1999, which is an increase equivalent to the entire population of the beautiful city of Christchurch. The unemployment rate is at 3.8 percent, remaining at historically low levels. It was the 11th consecutive quarter for which the unemployment rate was below 4 percent in New Zealand. The household labour force survey results also supported a continued reduction in the number of people on the unemployment benefit in the country. There are now only 26,678 New Zealanders reliant on that benefit. That is an 83 percent reduction since this Government took office, and the lowest figure since the middle of the 1980s—27 years ago.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
What reports has the Minister received about the numbers of youth on an unemployment benefit?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I can report that in December 1999, 17,514 18 and 19-year-olds received the unemployment benefit. As at the end of April this year, that number was 1,424.
Hon Marian HobbsHon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
It is 1,424. That is a reduction of 92 percent since this Government took office. There are now 28 Work and Income service centres in this country where at the end of April there were no youth in receipt of unemployment benefit, and a further 66 service centres where the number was less than 10. That success is also reflected in the numbers of Māori youth aged 18 to 19 in receipt of the unemployment benefit, which stands at 572 in April, and Pacific youth aged 18 to 19 in receipt of the unemployment benefit, which was only 162 in April—an extraordinary achievement.
Hone HarawiraKia ora, Madam Speaker. Kia ora tātou te Whare. Is it true that one of the reasons for the success of the Government’s programme to support people into work is that the Government is paying employers $280 a week to take on workers; if so, can the Minister please explain to the House why, for all of that subsidising of private enterprise, Māori still make up 36.5 percent of all those receiving the unemployment benefit?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
No. It is true, however, that the number of Māori on an unemployment benefit is now below 9,000. It is actually 8,927, which is 77 percent less than it was in December 1999. I seek leave of the House to table a schedule of the 28 Work and Income service centres with nil unemployed youth, and the 66 centres with fewer than 10.