West unemployed numbers up 54 percent

Newly released figures show the number of Waitakere people claiming the unemployment benefit is still growing.

Statistics reveal 2782 people were getting the benefit last July.

That figure has jumped by 54 percent to 4285.

The Household Labour Force Survey shows the national unemployment rate now stands at 7.3
percent – up from 6.5
percent in September.

It’s the highest rate of unemployment since 1999.

Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett says the figures are sobering.

"It’s been really tough in west Auckland," she says. "We’ve got quite a young population in Waitakere city and this recession has hit them hard."

Ms Bennett says the manufacturing and construction industries, which employ large numbers of west Aucklanders residents, are worst affected.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which represents a number of laid-off staff, is calling on the government to do more.

National secretary Andrew Little says record unemployment levels may become the norm if action is not taken.

"We can only hope that Mr Key and his government realise the clock is ticking and do something before it is too late.

"If this level of unemployment is allowed to be locked in we will face another lost decade of growth as we did in the 90s."

Mayor Bob Harvey says the issue is far more complicated.

"Many of the young people out here are still leaving school without qualifications – which I think is a real tragedy," he says.

"Jobs are becoming more complex which precludes a lot of our workers."

He says parents need to keep their children in school longer. "There will be jobs in the future."