Unemployment Still Steady

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 26

Unemployment Still Steady

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 21.

The combined number of registered unemployed and men employed on special Government works fell during the fortnight to August 16 by 75 from 11,732 to 11,657

Figures released by the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) today show that the number of unemployed fell by 396 from 8560 at August 2, but men on special Government works increased by 321 from 3172 at August 2.

Male enrolments with the Department of Labour fell from 6700 to 6227 and female registrations increased from 1860 to 1937.

The number of men enrolled in the Auckland district at August 16 was 1711 compared with 1697 at August 2. In Wellington and Lower Hutt the total was 369 (388), in Christchurch 839 (923) and in Dunedin 185 (296). Vacancies notified to the department for men totalled

1335 and for women 677, a total of 2012. Corresponding figures at August 2 were 1352 and 6686, a total of 2038. Included in the current vacancies were 493 for skilled men and 218 for skilled women. Figures released by the Social Security Department, the district boundaries of which closely resemble those of the Department of Labour, show that 5609 men and women were receiving unemployment benefit at August 16 compared with 5986 at August 2. The number of men receiving benefit in Auckland was 1067 (1141), in Wellington and Lower Hutt 182 (221), in Christchurch 681 (694), and in Dunedin 166 (225). District figures are:—

Aug. 16 Aug. 2 Northland 702 680 Auckland 1854 1809 Hamilton-Paeroa 788 811 Tauranga 167 179 Rotorua 322 289 Ciisborne 231 206 Napier 189 211 Hastings 356 378 New Plymouth 193 193 Wanganui 441 451 Palmerston Nth 418 434 Masterton 29 28 Lower Hutt 106 131 Wellington 378 391 Blenheim 63 84 Nelson 86 75 Grevmouth 77 82 Christchurch 935 1017 Ashburton 43 50 Timaru 168 243 Oamaru 73 75 Dunedin 234 365 Invercargill 311 378