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Dannevirke people are playing a key part in the nation's long-term improvement in employment statistics.
Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer today released figures showing as at 19 March, the number of unemployment beneficiaries registered within Tararua District Council had plummeted to 271, from 368 in March 1999.
Georgina Beyer says having fewer unemployment beneficiaries across the country means more resources are available for areas like health and education in next month's budget.
"This budget will also deliver further assistance to low and middle income earners. The government's capacity to do this has been enhanced by our efforts - alongside employers - in getting people off the dole and into work."
New Zealand's unemployment rate is now historically low. There are fewer than 79,000 people nationally on the unemployment benefit - half the 1999 level, prior to Labour's election to government later that year.
The number of working age New Zealanders on a main benefit (unemployment, invalid, sickness, or domestic purposes) has dropped by more than 14 per cent - from over 381,000 when the Labour-led government came to office to under 326,000 today.
Georgina Beyer says government agencies, working in partnership with employers in and around Dannevirke and Pahiatua, have placed record numbers of job seekers into paid work and directed many more into training and skill development.
The government's new Jobs Jolt package is seen by Georgina Beyer as another innovative way to encourage younger jobseekers to train for a career, and older people to develop new skills for industries that need them.
"We want to steer even more people off benefits and towards those employers, industries and regions that require skilled workers for growth and innovation to continue," said Georgina Beyer.
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