New Zealand’s unemployment rate is at 5.2 percent.
Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau
The number of people on a benefit continued to rise in the September quarter, when almost five percent more people received support, compared to the same time last year.
The Ministry of Social Development’s update shows Northland remains the region with the highest proportion of job hunters on a benefit, with 11.4 percent of the working age population.
Across the country, 19,104 more people received a benefit in September compared to the year before.
In total, 410,328 people received a main benefit.
Of those, almost 218,000 were received Jobseeker Support, an increase of 6.4 percent in that time.
The number of people cancelling the benefit to start work rose by just over 12 percent.
The country’s unemployment rate is at 5.2 percent.
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