New immigration figures ‘serious’ for unemployed

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 2

New immigration figures ‘serious’ for unemployed

PA Wellington New immigration figures haye ‘'serious implications" for the nation's unemployment. said Labour's spokesman on immigration. Mr T. K. Burke (West Coast), yesterday. The September statistics showed more permanent arrivals in New Zealand than departures for the first time this year and showed that the tide of emigration had finally turned. e For the last six years "we have exported much of our unemployment." Mr Burke said. “Under this Government we have suffered a net permanent migration loss of 160.000. Twenty-six thousand more people have left this

country than have arrived each year. Of these, about 18.000 would have been in the labour-force." he said. “Without such emigration, the labour-force would have increased by 33.000 a year. With the loss of our skilled young people to Australia and other countries, the yearly increase was about ‘15.000. “But. with no growth in the economy and few new jobs, unemployment has escalated — official figures show by 11.000 a year on average. “If the trend of a net gain from immigration continues, and there is still little job growth, unemployment will explode to astronomic proportions." Mr Burke said.