Women, youth, Māori, Pacific, self-employed and disabled workers are undoubtedly the worst affected by the economic impact of COVID-19, according to Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo.

June quarter labour market statistics show median income has fallen 7.6 percent to $652 a week.

She says that confirms other reports that workers from lower-income industries are earning less, working fewer hours, or are out of work completely.

There are 71,000 Māori now looking for work, compared with 53,000 in the corresponding period last year.

"It’s really important that the plans the Government has talked about – apprenticeships, procurement – especially when we are talking about our Māori whānau, there appears to be a lack of between the plans and reality so we need the pace of change to happen much faster," Dr Sumeo says.

COVID-19 has changed the way we work, so relying simply on job growth isn’t going to shift the imbalance and inequalities that have been made worse by the pandemic.

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