Rising Youth Unemployment is No Bright Future

Young Labour is dismayed by the results of today’s Household Labour Force Survey which shows youth unemployment has risen by 6.5 percent.

“Young Labour is appealing to the Government to take serious action to curb the rising rates of unemployment amongst young New Zealanders.” Young Labour President, Patrick Leyland, said this afternoon.

The release of the quarterly Household Labour Force Survey makes for grim reading with total unemployment up to 7.3% from 6.5% the previous quarter.

“However the most alarming statistic for this government has to be the rising unemployment rates for young people (15-24 year olds) which have increased by 6.4 percentage points to 18.4 percent” Leyland continued.

“National’s lacklustre attempts to create jobs and keep young people employed shows a disregard for the young people of this nation. This was evident when Minister of Social Development and Youth Affairs, Paula Bennett, passed up an invite to a Youth Jobs Summit attended by Young Labour and other concerned organisations in May last year. This lack of regard and inaction on this vital issue for young people is distrubing.” Leyland continued.

“The government has known this problem existed since they took office, but their response has so far been extremely limited, and entirely inadequate. National is letting down young New Zealanders and betraying the brighter future that was promised upon it’s election” Leyland concluded.

ENDS

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