Jobless in S.I. show slight fall

Press, 26 April 1988, Page 3

Jobless in S.I. show slight fall

■ By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Unemployment in Christchurch, and the South Island as a whole, has continued a gradual fall in March, against the national upward trend.

The fall, however,| was slight and has done little to mask an over-all rise, nationally and locally, of more than 30 per cent since the end of March, 1987. Th|e number of registerec job-seekers in the Christchurch district stood at 13,992 at the end of March, a fall of 78 from the end of February. Of the South Island's seven employment district;, only Greymouth recorded a rise during the momh, up 46 to 16431 The others recorded falls ranging from four in Nelson [to 85 in Blenheim. South Island unemployment over all 'fell 224 during the month, compared with a rise in the North Island of 1425. giving a new national total of 101,1770.

The Christchurch figure shows a continued gradual decline from a high of 11,1-89 recorded at the end of January. At 10,992, however, the figure is 34.4 per cent higher than the 8180 recorded at -the end of March, 1987.

The Christchurch employment' district comprises seven Labour Department offices in metropolitan Christchurch, and two rural offices in Rangiora and Ashburton. Of . the metropolitan offices.' Papanui. Riccarton and Shirley recorded rises during March, and

Beckenham. High Street New Brighton and Woolston recorded falls, for ar over-all rise in unemployment iin the urban area oi 11.

Falls in the rural sector particularly Rangiora. ac count for the district-wide fall .in unemployment. Ranigora recorded 823 job-seekers, down 76, and Ashburton recorded 4151, down 13. The district total includes 618 school leavers, down from 685 at the end of February but up from 475 at the end of Marell, 1987. I

The district offices placed 272 people in employment during the month, compared with 309 the previous month, and 416 in March last year.

They were advised of 391 ’ private sector vacancies during the month, of which 91 remained unfilled at the end of the month, compared with 426 notified in February, and 624 notified in March. 1987. ■ Of all the South Island employment districts. Greymouth suffers the greatest percentage of its workforce unemployed, with 12.4 per cent, and Invercargill the least, with 6.3 per cent. Al 7.3 per cent unemployed. the Christchurch district is slightly below the national average of 7.6 per cent.