Two new reports from the Ministry of Social Development show a record number of New Zealanders have moved off a benefit, and into work, following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The shift to alert level 4 in March 2020 saw a sharp increase in the number of people accessing benefits. But in 2021 and 2022, numbers began to recover.
In the year to June 2022, 113,400 people came off a benefit and into work, the highest number since electronic records began in 1996.
The changes in the numbers are largely due to fewer people accessing the Jobseeker Support benefits.
Around 23,900 fewer people were receiving the Jobseeker Support – Work Ready benefit in June 2022 than in June 2020, or 19.3 percent.
At June 2022, the bulk of young people accessing a benefit were receiving the Jobseeker Support – Work Ready payment (48.6 percent). Youth benefit numbers are now closer to pre-Covid levels than other age groups.
However, the report found young people currently receiving a benefit are estimated to receive one for longer in the future compared to the wider youth population.
Young people receiving a benefit at the end of the September 2021 quarter were 2.4 times more likely to have interacted with Oranga Tamariki in childhood.
Credit: sunlive.co.nz
