Jobless figures a ‘scandal’

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 12

Jobless figures a ‘scandal’

Labour's Shadow Minister of Employment (Mr T. K. Burke) has described the latest unemployment figures as a “post-election scandal." Mr Burke said that the January figure of 87,231 registered unemployed or on special work set a new postDepression record and was fast approaching the 90,000 he had predicted. "The more than 20 per cent increase in total unemployed since January last year is an appalling statement on the Government's often-made assertion that unemployment has peaked," he said.

"The Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) can’t hide behind the excuse that students are pushing up the figures. Students were counted last year too. It simply means the number of jobs in trie private sector has declined and unemployment is in-

creasing at an alarming rate — 15.000 in the January year."

Mr Burke said that unemployment in New Zealand must get worse because the Government had no policy to stimulate growth which, in turn, would lead to jobs. “Instead, the National Government has put all the investment eggs into the think-big basket that even the Government admits will bring about few jobs," he said.

Mr Burke said that the Government should think again about its employment and economic strategy, with a greater emphasis on stimulating the job-rich sectors of the economy such as small business, horticulture, and agriculture. He also called tor an undertaking that university students would have a work programme at the end of the year.