Minister’s pitch to employers as Jobseekers surpass population of Wellington City | Stuff.co.nz

The growing number of unemployed people on a Jobseeker benefit has surpassed the population of Wellington city, at more than 223,000. The Social Development Minister acknowledged today that it's challenging, but Louise Upston is confident that 2026 is the year those numbers will go down. As Zane Small reports, she's pinning her hopes on initiatives that make it easier for businesses to employ jobseeker candidates. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuff NZ is New Zealand’s essential news source — bringing you live, lively and trustworthy journalism from every corner of Aotearoa. Stay informed with breaking news, in-depth stories, and the latest updates that matter to Kiwis. We upload daily, keeping you connected with the people, places and issues shaping New Zealand today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social media channels: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nzstuff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzstuff