Unemployment rise hits all occupation sectors

Press, 3 August 1983, Page 2

Unemployment rise hits all occupation sectors

Wellington reporter

The increase in registered unemployed from 47,000 in June, 1982, to 76,868 in June this year has had a dramatic effect on the number of people seeking jobs in all types of occupations.

The number of unemployed farmers and agricultural workers rose 68 per cent to 6466. Where 17 were seeking each job in that occupation sector a year ago, there are now 31.

The number of unemployed forestry and logging workers has risen 110 per cent, to 1344. The number seeking each job has risen from eight to 58.

The number of unskilled [indoor and outdoor)

workers unemployed has risen 48 per cent, to 21,147. Where 39 were seeking each job, there are now 118.

Transport workers’ numbers out of work have risen 90 per cent, to 3725, and the number seeking each job from 29 to 110.

The biggest rise in registered unemployed has been among carpenters, joiners, and related workers. The increase has been 201 per cent, to 1108, and the jobseeking ratio has gone from 3.3 to 14.

The smallest rise has been among food and beverage processors; a 30 per cent increase, to 1872. However, in this category, for every 29 seeking a job a year ago, there are now 81.

It is not only the semiskilled and unskilled occupations that show a substantial rise.

A 73 per cent rise, to 567, in the registered unemployed in administrative and managerial positions has also been recorded. Where 15 were seeking a job in this sector a year ago, there are now 41.

Office and computing machine operators are also feeling the pinch, with a 72 per cent rise, to 1178. For

every nine seeking a job a year ago, there are now 49. A year ago, one unfilled vacancy existed for every 12 registered unemployed; this June, 41 people were competing for every unfilled vacancy.

These figures have been derived from Labour Department statistics by the Opposition spokesman for employment, Mr P. Neilson, and confirmed by the department. The Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, said the figures might reasonably have been expected given the jump in the total number of registered unemployed.

Mr Neilson said the figures and ratios excluded vacation workers.