Tightening of economy hits job growth

Press, 28 February 1986, Page 3

Tightening of economy hits job growth

By

PATRICIA HERBERT

in Wellington

A choking-off in job growth, part of the economic contraction the Government has warned about, is apparent in the latest quarterly survey by the Labour Department. It shows that only 8576 jobs were created in the November 1985, quarter against 19,976 for the same period in 1984. Also — a related trend — it shows a heavier reliance on casual employment. While In November, 1984, an increase of 2 per cent in the number of full-time employees was recorded against an increase of only 1.3 per cent in parttime workers, this relationship has now been reversed.

The November, 1985, quarter showed an increase of only 0.3 per cent in full-time workers against 2.6 per cent in part-time staff. In spite of this, the Minister of Employment, Mr Burke, described the figures as greatly encouraging.

He said the increase,

although well down on the 1984 rate, represented a turnround from the June to August period this year when an erosion of about 13,400 jobs had been recorded.

In the survey year, the number of full-time employees rose 1 per cent or 8721 to 894,031 while the number of part-time rose. 7.1 per cent or 12,708 to 190,503. Working proprietors rose over the same 12 months 4.4 per cent or 3901 to 93,481. Wages rose 12.2 per cent over the year compared with 4 per cent in 1984 but neither figure

would reflect fully the effects of the award rounds in those years because both would still have been In progress when the data were collated.

Women, however, are still trailing well behind men over all. The average ordinary-time weekly earnings before tax in November, 1985, were $320.89c, but this broke down to $358.02 for males and only $267.46 for females, a gap of $90.56 a week.