Bennett flustered by unemployment figures

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Bennett flustered by unemployment figures

3News NZ

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett (file)

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett (file)

By Rebecca Wright

The Government is receiving criticism for not doing enough to address youth unemployment, and Minister for Social development Paula Bennett appeared flustered today while defending welfare reform targeted at teenagers.

There are 58,000 people between 15 and 24 out of work, school or training – enough to fill the new Eden Park stadium.

However, Ms Bennett says the figures aren’t right.

“That’s actually between 15-19 year olds we’re talking about where we've seen an increase - we've actually seen a decrease in all other areas and in fact a decrease in 18-24 year olds,” she said today.

But unemployment for 18 - 24 year olds is actually 0.6 percent higher today than it was in 2009, although it's down on last year.

Ms Bennett also disputed how many young people don't have a job, saying most 15, 16 and 17-year-olds are “in school in training and would like a part time job”.

“Part time jobs have dried up for a number of reasons, but that doesn't mean they're not doing anything.”

However, it means exactly that: they form part of 58,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 who Statistics NZ today confirmed are not in any form of education, employment or training.

Labour leader Phil Goff asked if John Key accepted “that his unemployment policies for young people have failed”, but Mr Key transferred the question to Ms Bennett.

Labour MP Trevor Mallard called the Prime Minister a chicken and was kicked out.

National's record on young people is now shaping up as one of the hottest election issues.

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Comments

22/08/2011 8:28:32 a.m.

Unsolicited wrote:

Mouthgard why would Key feel any question from the duckman have any validity? Mallard claims to be a hard hitter who goes for the truth but he is full of anything but. What has he achieved in his 20 years on the taxman's dollar? Nothing. He's an institutionalised bureaucrat with no concept of the real world. Katrina - totally agree. There were plenty of unjustified transfers from the dole to the sickness benefit. And as for Labour & their handle of loyal supporters trying to give them credit for getting unemployment down - laughable and has no validity whatsoever. They did nothing but spend our money on themselves & policies that were so obviously doomed to failure. Policies that saw the public service become grotesquely bloated, policies that did nothing but create a sense of entitlement and expectation we can't afford. They weren't real jobs. They just helped create a false economy with their analysts, advisors, contractors etc etc. Makes me sick when I think how much money Labour wasted, especially given waiting lists for surgeries went through the roof. I don't know how any of them can live with themselves. They had the most surpluses of any govt in our countries history yet as soon as there was even a whiff of a recession our economy crumbled - just before the 2008 election. They have nothing to be proud of except increasing the riches of the top % of people by 300%. Disgusting. If their snouts were any further in the taxman's trough it would be embedded. Any fool can manage a country when its economy APPEARS to be doing well. Thank God they haven't been in govt for the last 3 years and have no chance of being in govt in the next 3.

20/08/2011 1:48:26 p.m.

katrina wrote:

Lloyd, Labour's unemployment figures seemed lower because they were encouraging people to sign up for the sickness benefit instead of the dole, this of course helped the stats.

17/08/2011 8:30:45 p.m.

Matt wrote:

Umm, Mallard called Key a chicken because he actually left the house instead of facing a question from Goff. Most folk would get fired for walking out on their job like that. How on earth was this point missed in this article?

17/08/2011 6:18:11 p.m.

Miss Molly wrote:

Mouthguard. Actually she was on the teat that got her in the current position today VIA the TIA, then she took it away. So others in her position now find it harder to be successful. From where I'm standing people are working hard, but are going no where due to the cost of living.

17/08/2011 3:24:25 p.m.

Chris wrote:

It's funny because from talking to quite a few employers. Places like fast food outlets, cafe's ect they all still seem to find GOOD QUALITY employees. Allthough I'm not saying that every unemployed youth is a poor worker. But it seems that theres a large proportion who are not.

17/08/2011 12:27:27 p.m.

nurse hamilton wrote:

unemployment among youth is worse now than during the depression . this gov't say they spent 200 million on it,well who got all that money if the youth are still unemployed. what a waste of money giving it to fat cat national bussinesses running courses that gave nothing in the end because there is no jobs. youth rates are a sick joke that is only cheap labour, youth have the same life expenses as anyone else. and those on full wages can't even live now. we need proper jobs and proper pay. labour brought in working for families because workers were paid too low to provide for the family. national need a boot out the door.

17/08/2011 12:24:26 p.m.

Mouthguard wrote:

Yeah Sam, we all really know that. People say, experts agree. Rumour has it. I am yet to hear a single fact from you Sam, all I hear is "waw waw waw waw, woe is me, other people are more successful than me, waw, waw, waw, life isn't fair, waw, waw, waw, the world owes me a living, waw, waw, waw. Bennett has been a beneficiary, and knows what it takes to get off other people's teats. Time for a few people to take the medicine they need. Stay at school, work hard. Easy...

17/08/2011 8:00:13 a.m.

Lloyd wrote:

Actually Katrina. According to English National were in good shape when they took office (you can google this). Labour got the unemployment figures down to the lowest it's ever been, they were doing something right. We should be looking after our youth much better as we don't want them crossing the ditch. It's sad to think our grandchildren will be raised in another country and we also need them here to support us when we retire. Interesting conversation the other day with a successful student him and the majority of other classmates are crossing the ditch once they graduate.

16/08/2011 10:21:47 p.m.

jj wrote:

Katrina you tory dame, what gives you the right to criticize Phil Goff then?Get your facts right before posting crap like the rest of you Nat supporters on here.

16/08/2011 10:17:28 p.m.

Don wrote:

this wooman dont any idea about her job she just knoking on the floor the unemployed people,she did not have a clue about what she doing,she stay on DB half her life and her daughter same as mother,and he more of all no any jobs available in NZ thats why bright people leaving NZ and people who dont have any chances stay and saffer under rule this people who only care about their sallary and self,.hope the national will be kicked out,.