unemployment Archive

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  Unemployment: one step forward, two steps back - by Denise Roche

  
  
  
  Hot on the heels of yesterday’s minimum wage increase announcement – of a paltry 50c an hour – comes the December 2011 Household Labour Force Survey quarterly report . On the face of it, the statistics indicate a steady decrease in unemployment – and no doubt John Key’s government will be pitching it in this [...] read more
  February 9, 2012 6:01 pm - 11 Comments
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  A nation divided? - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Herald has launched a six part series highlighting inequality and poverty in New Zealand, showing why we need action on the root causes, not the consequences. read more
  February 7, 2012 1:37 pm - 38 Comments
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  I’m calling foul on National’s youth minimum wage plan - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Last week, the National Party announced policy to reduce the minimum wage for many young people. Yesterday, the most recent Department of Statistics Household Labour Force survey results were released.  It is mostly pretty grim reading.  Unemployment has gone up, and very few jobs have been created. But there was a wee bit of good [...] read more
  November 4, 2011 7:56 am - 21 Comments
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  Job creation and welfare policies are failing - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Most people spend less than a year on a benefit and use that time to rebuild their lives and education. The few who abuse the system pale into insignificance against losses from failed investment companies, tax evaders and corporate fraudsters. read more
  May 7, 2010 12:13 pm - 27 Comments
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  Future unfocused for beneficiaries in Te Tairawhiti - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  What is the Government doing to help create sustainable employment in regions like Te Tairawhiti? Blaming the victims of our economy through packages like Future Focus won’t create any more jobs for them. read more
  April 15, 2010 9:54 am - 7 Comments
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  Beneficiary bashing back in fashion - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Government smokescreen for inaction on the rising unemployment figures is to raise the spectre of benefit fraud. I had a look at the Ministry of Social Development statistics and found this is not a growing problem. read more
  February 15, 2010 2:41 pm - 36 Comments
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  Lindsay Mitchell compares apples with oranges and goes bananas - by frog

  
  
  
  Beneficiary bashing blogger Lindsay Mitchell published a post last week in which she attempted to argue that many people on sickness and invalid’s benefits should be looking for work. She compared the current unemployment and sickness/invalid’s benefit figures with those in 1999, the last time unemployment was at its current level of 7.3%, and came [...] read more
  February 8, 2010 12:46 pm - 49 Comments
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  Economy with the truth - by frog

  
  
  
  We expect the truth about the economy from our Government – not economy with the truth. Of course politicians, of whatever hue, are going to attempt to spin statistics to their political advantage. I’m relaxed about that. Telling blatant lies about statistics is another matter. read more
  February 5, 2010 9:12 am - 23 Comments
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  It’s the population growth, stupid - by frog

  
  
  
  During the last year, employment fell by 53,000 or 2.4 percent. But Paula Bennett and the National-led Government chose to do nothing to create employment, and now blame the horrendously high unemployment figure on a few returning New Zealanders and immigrants. read more
  February 4, 2010 5:29 pm - 17 Comments
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  Green New Deal could have prevented record unemployment - by frog

  
  
  
  Unemployment has hit a ten year high of 168,000, or 7.3 percent of the labour force, according to the December 2009 Household Labour Force Survey released today. This is far worse than the 6.8% or 6.9% that many commentators were forecasting. How different it could have been if the Government had been prepared to buy into the Green New Deal package proposed by the Greens. read more
  February 4, 2010 2:58 pm - 33 Comments
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  There’s no dignity in scrapping the dole - by frog

  
  
  
  We have a international acceptance now of the policy of social welfare for bankers.  The National Party is proposing benefits specifically for people who haven’t already got a benefit.  And then the Maori Party’s Tariana Turia swims in completely the opposite direction and asks for the dole to be scrapped. Confused? The Maori Party’s advocacy [...] read more
  October 16, 2008 9:43 am - 52 Comments