Labour Party

Auckland clocks up 84,000 more in work

07.03.2005

Auckland has clocked up 84,000 more people in work since December 1999, an average of 46 more people in jobs every day.

The number of people working in the Auckland region rose from 546,900 in December 1999 to 630,900 at the end of last year.

Maungakiekie MP Mark Gosche says since the Labour-led government took office, there has been an average of one more New Zealander in employment every ten minutes.

The increase in employment comes amid dramatic falls in the number of people on unemployment benefits. In Auckland's Eastern suburbs alone the number of people on the unemployment benefit dropped to 2,040 at the end of last year. That's 2,320 fewer than the 4,360 registered at the end of 1999 in Glen Innes, Highland Park, and Panmure service centres.

"At 3.6 per cent nationally, New Zealand's unemployment rate is now the lowest in the developed world, a far cry from the 11 per cent of the early 1990s, and an achievement all New Zealanders can be proud of," said Mark Gosche.

"This jobs growth confirms Auckland is a competitive region with a vibrant local economy."

Mark Gosche said the government's plans to introduce a simplified benefit system would allow Work and Income case managers to focus even more on moving people from benefits to work.

"With unemployment at record lows and a strong labour market there has never been a better time to refocus the benefit system.

"The changes will help meet the challenge of filling the jobs created by a growing economy."