August 05, 2022
Māori unemployment near lowest
TAGS: Media release, Carmel Sepuloni, Māori unemployment
Adam Gifford
Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni says the Māori unemployment rate is now one of the lowest on record.
Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out of work.
The Māori rate was 5.5 percent, down from 7.8 percent last quarter.
The total number of people in work is 45,000 more than a year ago and 108,000 above where it was in the December 2019 quarter before COVID.
The average hourly wage rose 6.4 percent to $36.97 an hour.
There was a slight rise in the total number of people unemployed, but the number of Māori and Pacific unemployed fell 2.3 percent and 2.4 percent respectively on a year ago.
Minister Sepuloni says the figures shows the Government’s economic plan is working and firms continue to hire despite the uncertain global environment.
Some sectors and businesses are facing worker shortages, which is why the Government is investing heavily in skills and training through programmes like Mana in Mahi, Flexiwage and He Pou Rangatahi.