12 Oct 2009

Halt in dole increase

1:12 pm on 12 October 2009

There has been a halt in the number of people going on an unemployment benefit for the first time this year.

In the week ending 2 October, more people went off the benefit than applied for it, resulting in a drop of 90 people on the dole.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says it's a positive sign, especially when there were 1300 people per week signing up for the benefit in the middle of this year.

The number of people on the unemployment benefit grew to 60,660 in September.