The West Coast has the highest unemployment rate in the South Island and it appears women have fared the worst since the Covid-19 pandemic began. RNZ The West Coast has been hit hard by job losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government’s shovel-ready projects fund allocated $90 million to the West Coast with the promise of hundreds of jobs. Supplied Emily Westacott and Simon Costello moved to the West Coast to find work after Queenstown Lakes was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Development West Coast chief executive Heath Milne said she expected the full economic shock from the pandemic was “still to play out”.

Source: Stuff September 15, 2020 05:37 UTC