Additional 10,000 job seekers to receive one-on-one support [Video]

Social Development Minister Louise Upston is hoping an additional 10,000 job seekers receiving one-on-one support will help reverse the growth in the number of beneficiaries.

It comes as the number of people on a Jobseeker benefit continues to soar as unemployment rises, threatening to derail the Government’s target to have 50,000 fewer such beneficiaries by 2030.

Upston joined Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at his post-Cabinet press conference today as he provided an update on the Government’s nine public service targets across areas from benefits, crime rates and health.

Luxon could also face questions about Government plans after the first case of high pathogenic avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, was confirmed in New Zealand.

Biosecurity New Zealand has placed strict movement controls on a commercial rural Otago egg farm.The Ministry of Social Development’s latest update, in September, showed nearly 400,000 people on benefits, with 12% of the working-age population …