Hon Steven Joyce

4 February 2015

28,000 more jobs

New labour market data released this week shows that in last year’s December quarter alone, employment was up by 1.2 per cent. That’s 28,000 more jobs in the past quarter, and 80,000 more jobs in the past year.

Average wages are also showing healthy growth, lifting 2.6 per cent over the year – well ahead of the 0.8 per cent inflation rate – and New Zealand continues to fare better than most of the OECD.

The other striking element of the new data is the record high participation in the labour market, of 69.7 per cent. This increase means unemployment rises slightly to 5.7 per cent despite the strong job growth.

National is continuing to focus on the economic policies that encourage business investment right across New Zealand, because it is only when businesses have the confidence to invest that we achieve the sort of strong job growth we are seeing now.

National’s plan to build a stronger economy and responsibly manage the Government’s finances is working for New Zealanders.

ENDS

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