Rising unemployment figures no surprise given govt cuts

Now it’s time for Will’s Word…

The recent announcement by Social Development Minister Louise Upston about projected jobseeker numbers peaking at 214,000 by January 2025 should come as no surprise.

And that’s given the economic landscape – a cost-of-living crisis and rising unemployment inherited – this forecast was inevitable.

That’s despite the Government’s target to reduce jobseeker numbers by 50,000 by 2030 – doesn’t like that’s gonna be happening.

Upston said “worse before better” serves as a clear acknowledgment of the challenges at hand.

Labour’s criticism of this rising trend is valid; the government’s promises now appear more aspirational than achievable.

With a growing number of New Zealanders reliant on support, it’s crucial for the government to reassess its strategies and prioritise meaningful economic recovery over ambitious but unrealistic targets.

Acknowledging the inevitability of these figures could be the first step towards a more honest and effective approach to tackling unemployment and its root causes.