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The greater Wellington region, which includes Wairarapa, has clocked up 42,800 more people in work since December 1999, an average of 23 more people in jobs every day.
The number of people working in the region rose from 223,300 in December 1999 to 266,100 at the end of last year.
Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer says since the Labour-led Government took office, there has been an average of one more New Zealander in employment every 10 minutes.
The increase in employment comes amid dramatic falls in the number of people on unemployment benefits. In Wairarapa alone the number of people on the unemployment benefit dropped to 756 at the end of last year. That's 1353 fewer than the 2109 registered at the end of 1999 in Dannevirke and Masterton service centres.
In the same period, the number of people in this area on the unemployment benefit for more than two years plunged from 354 to 225.
"At 3.6 percent nationally, New Zealand's unemployment rate is now the lowest in the developed world, a far cry from the 11 percent of the early 1990s, and an achievement all New Zealanders can be proud of," said Ms Beyer.
"This jobs growth confirms Greater Wellington is a competitive region with a vibrant local economy."
Georgina Beyer said the Government's plans to introduce a simplified benefit system would allow Work and Income case managers to focus even more on moving people from benefits to work.
"With unemployment at record lows and a strong labour market there has never been a better time to refocus the benefit system.
"The changes will help meet the challenge of filling the jobs created by a growing economy."
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