Record low unemployment figures good news

 Record low unemployment figures out today are good news, and enable a renewed focus in 2008 on supporting those in work to lift skills, as well as try to go even lower than 3.4 percent for the unemployment rate, CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

Statistics New Zealand’s Household Labour Force Survey out this morning has unemployment at 3.4 percent, the lowest rate ever recorded in the survey.

“The CTU will continue its call for decent work for all New Zealand workers, which addresses issues around work-life balance, better pay, productivity and secure hours.”

“There were still 77,000 people out of work though, and once we add those discouraged or presently unable to work the figure becomes 146,000.”

There were also 88,000 people looking for more hours, and ethnic disparities in unemployment figures remained – unemployment for Maori (7.3%) and Pacific people (4.7%) are both down but still higher than Pakeha (2.3%), Beaumont said.

“This shows that with a concerted approach we can still improve on the very good figures out today, and our goal still remains full employment.”

“For example, the CTU is working with Business New Zealand and Government on strategies to support workers’ transition into new employment when they lose a job.”