A secure, well-paying job is the best antidote to a life of crime

Despite New Zealand's unemployment rate standing at its lowest level in a generation, today's ANZ Job Ads survey for August suggests there will be further growth in jobs in coming months, says Progressive MP Matt Robson.

"There has been a lot of comment recently on the declining crime rate, and yet prisons are overcrowded. In a time of strong economic growth, it is time to move to bolster initiatives in early intervention, rehabilitation, alternatives to prison and re-integration.

"One of the reasons New Zealand's crime rate has fallen so much is that employment has risen so much over the past five years. That suggests that today's ANZ job ads report means the fall in the crime rate will continue its descent," the Progressive MP said.

Matt Robson said the Labour Progressive government has overseen an increase in the number of police officers and upgraded prison capability – steps that make our streets safer.

"But I think we all know that the best solution for New Zealand would be if we had a full employment economy in which all young people were engaged in productive work. Having a secure, well-paying job is the best antidote to a life of crime," he said.

Job advertising levels in major newspapers rose by 0.2 percent in August, consolidating a 3.5 percent increase in July. The ANZ series continues to trend steadily upward and job advertising in major newspapers remains at the highest level in the 10-year history of the ANZ series.

ANZ says its surveys point to further employment gains through the remainder of 2004 and into 2005.

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