Unemployment has surged to its highest level in close to nine years, with young people bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Today’s Ministry of Social Development stats, which show record numbers of New Zealanders relying on benefits, are further proof that the Government for the rich is failing unemployed people and fuelling poverty.

Latest stats indicating the worst unemployment numbers since the outbreak of the pandemic are further proof that the Government’s policies are forcing people further into hardship and poverty. 

Latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development show the Government is pushing more and more people into unemployment, while punishing them with sanctions for being out of work. 

The Government’s Budget is failing families in poverty by pulling the rug on young people receiving income support and allowing more children to go without enough food on the table.

The Government’s just-passed Social Security Amendment Bill is set to create more benefit sanctions that will push families deeper into poverty. 

The latest job market statistics show that unemployed people are being failed by a Government more focused on punishing the poor than creating jobs.

The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship.

The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest.

The latest labour market figures confirm unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.