Southland and Otago has the lowest percentage of people receiving a Jobseeker benefit in New Zealand. For the year to April, there are 417 fewer Jobseeker Work Ready beneficiaries in the whole of Southland, Ministry of Social Development figures show. Nationally, there were 118,029 Jobseeker Work Ready recipients as at April. Hamilton’s population is about three times the size of Invercargill, but has more than five times as many Jobseeker beneficiaries. Despite the drop in Jobseeker beneficiaries, there were still huge gaps, Carey said.

Source: Stuff June 13, 2021 00:00 UTC