Unemployed 'turn down $23,000 jobs’

Press, 1 December 1988, Page 1

Unemployed 'turn down $23,000 jobs’

PA Auckland A South Auckland personnel agency says it is dismayed at the number of young people turning down jobs at a time of record unemployment in New Zealand. Mrs Yvonne Davidson, of Management and Personnel Consultants, said she had had many cases recently of jobs paying up to $23,000 being rejected for the flimsiest reasons. “These people openly admit to being on the dole and, because the position offered is either less than their desired salary .or not within five minutes of their home, they prefer to continue to draw the benefit.” Many did not even bother to go for interviews because the posi-

tions did not meet their criteria 100 per cent, she said. Attitudes were in stark contrast to those of older job seekers, many of whom had been made redundant and were struggling to find jobs. Not all young job-seekers were at fault but enough were abusing the system for the Government to investigate the present level of the dole, she said. The Unemployed Workers’ Union has challenged Mrs Davidson to produce some evidence to back her claims. A spokesman, Mr Paul Blair, said he did not believe anyone struggling to survive on the dole would turn down a job paying $23,000.