Government optimism meets grassroots frustration on JobSeeker policy

A community advocate has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Government’s latest initiative to get more people off benefits and into jobs.

Brooke Pao Stanley from Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) criticised the coalition for failing to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.

AAAP comprises a group of volunteers who work together towards the vision of a poverty free Aotearoa, and they do this via advocacy, organising, education, campaign work and direct action. Photo/AAP

“The best way to support people is just to give them what they need in order to look after themselves… it’s not complex," she said.

The announcement included a new initiative to assist up to 70,000 job seekers in overcoming barriers to employment and ways to identify barriers such as education, transport, addiction, health, and childcare.

Following these assessments, personalised job plans would be developed to support individuals in their journey towards a job.

Stanley was especially critical of the Government’s focus on work readiness programs while overlooking the lack of available jobs.

Watch MSD Minister Louise Upston's full interview below.

“There aren't any jobs available for people. This Government especially has actually made a lot of people redundant as well.”

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Minister for Social Development Louise Upston said case management was effective in supporting people into jobs.

“No two job seekers are the same, so they’ll get an individual needs assessment to really understand what the barriers are for work for that individual.”

She cited the recent success of 22,000 people moving off the JobSeeker benefit into work between July and October as evidence that the Government’s efforts are yielding results.

Watch Brooke Pao Stanley's full interview below.

“Despite the really challenging economic conditions… we have seen very strong exits into work,” she said, adding that the goal is to prepare more jobseekers for opportunities as the economy improves.”

The policy is part of the Government’s goal of having 50,000 fewer people on JobSeeker Support by 2030.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Stanley expressed frustration at the announcement, which she saw as another bureaucratic solution that failed to address the deeper issues of poverty and systemic inequality.

People on Jobseeker Support will have to reapply every 26 weeks from mid-2025.

MSD Minister, Louise Upston. Photo/Ala Vailala