Unemployment Drops

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32035, 9 July 1969, Page 1

Unemployment Drops

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 8. There were 85 fewer registered unemployed at the end of June than a fortnight before., the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) said today.

The largest unemployment groups were labourers, totalling 1166; freezing workers, 410; and factory workers, 238. Increases in some districts were expected as freezing works continued to reduce staff, the Minister said.

Unemployment in Invercargill, the scene of a large rise in recent weeks as a result of the oyster season closing, dropped slightly as some oystermen and openers returned

to fishing and other off-season or casual labour. But there still remained about 40 men from the industry unemployed. A few districts reported optimistically, Mr Shand said. One was able to place all men, in its main town. Another found the "unfit” the only employment problem; another that it had been able to place willing workers, except the handicapped, within one or two days of enrolment.

Yet another reported that employment for males "remains very buoyant”; and another that the acute shortage of tradesmen had caused greater employer-interest in immigration. One of the biggest districts was able to place any fit, skilled man who enrolled. A big South Island district reported there was little trouble placing fit, unskilled workers who genuinely wished to work. The total unemployed at June 27 was 3579, which was 4551 fewer than at the corresponding time last year. The national incidence of unemployment was 0.35 per cent (3.5 people per 1000). Male registered unemployed totalled 2823, a decrease of 72 in a fortnight; and female 756, a decrease of 13. A year ago 6228 men and 1902 women were registered as unemployed. Vacancies notified to the Labour Department were 3640 —2582 for men, and 1058 for women. These included 1035 vacancies for skilled men and 341 for skilled women.

Figures released by the Social Security Department, whose district boundaries are similar to those of the Department of Labour, show that 2413 men and women were receiving the unemployment benefit at June 27. The number of men receiving the benefit in the Auckland district was 351 (345 a fortnight earlier); WellingtonLower Hutt 26 (34); Christchurch 195 (195); Dunedin 101 (90).