Friday, 05 February 2010
AS New Zealand faces its highest unemployment rate in 10 years, recently-released statistics show more than 200 Eastern Bay people began drawing an unemployment benefit in the last quarter of 2009.
Over Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki, the number of people on the dole was up from 1244 in September to 1450 in December, according to Statistics New Zealand figures released this month.
New figures released yesterday showed that in seasonally adjusted terms, the number of unemployed people in New Zealand jumped to 7.3 per cent during December 2009, from 6.5 per cent.
This puts the unemployment rate at its highest level since the June 1999 quarter.
In the Bay of Plenty region the unemployment rate was slightly higher at 7.4 per cent, up from 4.5 per cent the same time in 2008.
This means 9500 people were without jobs in the region, compared to 5700 in 2008.
Government statistician Geoff Bascand said the increase was “mainly due to a rise in the number of people entering the labour force but unable to find work”.
He said in 2009 the increase of unemployment was particularly marked among young people aged 15-24.
A national rise in people drawing an unemployment benefit has also been attributed to an influx of youths looking for employment by social development minister Paula Bennett.
“At this time of year we see an influx of students leaving secondary school and tertiary education and competing for jobs.
“Many employers also tend to not hire over the Christmas period, shutting down for the break, which further tightens the labour market,” Mrs Bennett said.
Whakatane unemployment beneficiaries increased by 92 at the end of December 2009, and by 230 since the same time in 2008.
In Kawerau the number of working-age people drawing an unemployment benefit went from 293 to 326 - a rise of 133, and in Opotiki the numbers rose by 121, from 229 to 148.