Details ‘shaky’, says unemployment report
Wellington rep>,rter The special report on unemployment commissioned by the .Government has concluded 'hat the foundations of present knowledge about unemployment are very shaky, and the statistical base on which decisions were continually being made was both flawed and incomplete.
Neither the causes nor the effects of unemployment were clearly established. "Even the effectiveness of the attempts to alleviate the distress of those who are unemployed is not known in any syste-
matic way.” the report said.
The committee of public servants, academics, and people from industry who prepared the report met many people in Government departments, local authorities, industry, trade unions, and the numerous a.gencies concerned with unemployment.
It acknowledged the insights given into “the real and ugly face” of unemployment by the unemployed.
"We have come, to appreciate the legitimacy of the* bitterness and anger that lies behind the testimony of their experiences.” the report said.
The committee asked several questions about unemployment, to which no satisfactory answers were forthcoming:
— What is known about the extent of unemployment? Are there more people unemployed than just those registered?
— What is known about the causes of unemployment? Is it the result of "dole-bludging." of deficiencies in the education system, of bad business management, of labour relations. or of inflation? —What is known about the consequences of unemployment? How does it hurt New Zealand, how does it affect people, and do crime and illness increase?
— What ii. known about the cures for unemployment'?. Do any of the new schemes to combat it actually help?
“There is a substantial background of ignorance about the causes, effects, and actual circumstances of ’unemployment in New Zealand," the report said. “The problem is extremely complex, and has ramifications all the way from individuals to the highest level of policymaking.
“The information ' available is extremely limited and probably inaccurate,” it said.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800715.2.47
Bibliographic details
Press, 15 July 1980, Page 5
Word Count
310Details ‘shaky’, says unemployment report Press, 15 July 1980, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in