MEDIA RELEASE
5 November 1999.
Exactly How many are Unemployed? The Minister doesn’t Know.
New Zealand First MP, Gilbert Myles, today highlighted the confused picture being painted by Government on unemployment
statistics. He said the official statistics seem to under-estimate real unemployment by 100,000.
“In reply to a written question received on 13 October 1999, I was advised by the Associate Minister of Social Services,
Work and Income, Peter McCardle, that at 30 June 1999 213,760 people were registered as unemployed. This contrasts
somewhat with the confused statistics now being released of 131,000 for the same period by the Government Statistician”.
“I would have assumed the Minister in charge would have a grip on his portfolio responsibilities,” said Mr Myles.
“This is an obvious contradiction. The Government should come clean on the true level of unemployment and not mask the
facts in an effort to lull voters into a false sense of wellbeing”.
Ends