Unemployment falls in Northland

CUTTING NUMBERS: Apiana Beamsley, front, with fellow Forestry Industry Partnership graduates Philip Tepania, left, and James Makiha, right, are some of the Northlanders getting into work.

A small reduction in Northland's unemployment numbers is being cheered by the Social Development Ministry.

Figures from Work and Income show the number of Northlanders on an unemployment benefit has dropped by 56 in a month, to 3380 by the end of October.

This is a 1.6 percent decrease on September's figures - the first fall in 15 months since the recession hit in June 2008.

Ministry Northland regional commissioner Clive Manley says while things appear to be improving, there are still 1715 Northlanders on the unemployment benefit compared to a year ago.

This is a result of the global recession and a weakened economy, he says.

And Mr Manley predicts Northland will see an increase in unemployment from now through to January, as students enter the workforce and seasonal work finishes.

The drop in Northland unemployment benefit numbers has been reflected nationally, with the numbers falling nationwide by about 200 a week during October. Before this, unemployment benefit numbers were going up by about 3800 each month, he says.

Mr Manley says sadly Northland has the second highest unemployment rate in the country at 8.3 percent, compared with the national average of 5.5 percent.

"We are working hard to turn this around - we had a good result last month with a drop of 56."

There are 243 jobs listed with Work and Income in the Northland area, covering a range of roles including agriculture, forestry, fishing, personal services and retail.

Work and Income is actively recruiting young people between the ages of 17 and 24 for 12 Job Ops positions and there are also 12 Community Max opportunities throughout the region.

Other Northland projects include the graduation of nine Forestry Industry Partnership trainees who were all on a benefit or had been made redundant.

The initiative between Ngati Hine Forestry Trust, Forestry Industry Training Education Council, Hancocks Forest Management, Harvest Pro and Work and Income will see all nine graduates offered fulltime work with Harvest Pro.

The venture was born out of the Northland Economic Summit when Hancock managing director Rowan Struthers spoke of the growth in the forestry industry and the urgent need for skilled forestry workers during the next five years.

- © Fairfax NZ News