Unemployment

Employement levels appeared to hold up well in the first half of the year, but data out tomorrow is still expected to show an unemployment level of 6.5% for the country.

New Zealand's unemployment rate is set to hover around 6.5% for the next six months, judging from data from the ANZ Job Ads series released yesterday.

There are 25 unemployed young people in Clutha, and Mayor Bryan Cadogan believes the number can be zero.

New Zealand is joining the world unemployment crisis, with 9000 more people out of work, bumping the total jobless to 160,000.

Unemployment could push above the current 6.3% in the three months ended June, despite job advertisements rising throughout New Zealand in February.

Weakness in employment growth continued through the last quarter of 2011 and the outlook for New Zealand's labour market recovery remaining "gradual", ASB economist Jane Turner said.

New Zealand's unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in the third quarter, with little evidence the start of the Rugby World Cup drove an increase in casual workers to service the wave of tourists.

Unemployment stats just out show that the New Zealand jobless rate is flat at 6.6 percent, with just a 0.1 percent increase in the latest quarter.

Will we continue with approaches to social problems that fail or will we choose those that work? asks Laura Black.

Dole rules look set to get stricter with the Government signalling a crackdown on fraud and considering a shorter reapplication period for the benefit.