August 17, 2016
Maori still twice jobless rate
The unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1 per cent after a change to the way the figure is calculated.
Maori unemployment fell to 11 per cent, down from 12.2 per cent a year ago.
Employment Minister Steven Joyce says the shift in the Household Labour Force Survey brings New Zealand in line with international standards.
He says it shows in the June quarter New Zealand had the fourth highest rate of employment in the OECD and the fifth highest labour market participation rate.
He says there were 58,000 more people in employment over the last quarter.
Those not in employment, education or training (NEET) was 10.7 per cent, down 1.7 per cent, the lowest since September 2008.
Mr Joyce says 327,000 jobs have been created since the worst of the Global Financial Crisis eight years ago.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com