Where is the ‘more jobs’ target?

Thursday, 15 March 2012, 3:01 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

CTU Media Release

15 March 2012

Where is the ‘more jobs’ target?

CTU is concerned that targets are going to be set to reduce beneficiary numbers but there is no mention about creating new jobs, said CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg.

“The state has a role in creating jobs and promoting employment but this isn’t reflected in the targets, with no mention of investment, or targets for job creation. In fact there is a policy of confirming fewer public sector jobs in the Prime Minister’s speech.”

“The number of jobless is now 261,300. The employment situation for young people has worsened. The proportion of 15-24 year olds not in employment, education or training in December had risen from 12.4 percent to 13.1 percent from September. Where is the target to get these people into employment? A target of reducing the number of beneficiaries is not the same thing as creating jobs for people to go into.”

“No one would argue with the need for action on health and education but our concern is what is missing - action on job creation. Programmes like Task Force Green, Community Max and Job Opportunities haven’t done enough. We need more action on jobs from the government. They seem to be content to live with current levels of unemployment which have been around since 2009,” said Rosenberg.

ENDS

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New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

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