New labour statistics show the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high under National, with unemployment soaring in our major cities.

"Christopher Luxon promised to make the economy better, but two years on unemployment remains higher than it should be and is lasting longer than it was forecast to. Instead of fixing it, National is making it worse," Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

"Unemployment at 5.3 percent represents 163,000 New Zealanders out of work and struggling to make ends meet. In our cities it’s even worse. Auckland’s unemployment rate at 6.6 percent is the highest in 12 years, while Wellington at 6.3 percent is the worst in almost 11 years.

“Our Māori and Pasifika communities are hit twice at hard, with unemployment more than double the national average.

"On top of that, our young people are being left behind with 14.4 percent struggling to enter the work force.

“At the same time, wage growth has flatlined and remains lower than inflation. In real terms, that means New Zealanders are going backwards.

“Behind every one of those numbers is a family under pressure, struggling with high prices, watching their savings shrink, and wondering whether there's a future for them here. National’s economy isn’t working for everyone, and they’re too out of touch to do anything about it.

“On National’s watch, we have seen countless businesses close, with liquidations reaching a 15-year high. That doesn’t even include high profile closures that are devastating entire communities, like the Heinz Wattie’s and McCain plant closures.

“National has no plan to make things better, and the ongoing oil crisis will only make life even harder for Kiwis already doing it tough under National.

"New Zealand can't afford another year of this, let alone another term. Only Labour will back New Zealand businesses to grow and create good jobs, so people can build a future here, not overseas," Barbara Edmonds said.

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