7 Sep 2011

Dole numbers drop as more young people in work

9:18 pm on 7 September 2011

The number of people on the unemployment benefit dropped by more than 1000 in July and is now at its lowest level in two years.

The total number of people receiving the dole is 55,974, down from the peak of 68,369 in January last year.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says about half the 1145 people that came off the benefit last month were young people.

Ms Bennett says Work and Income get an average of 1200 new jobs each week and recent figures show all advertised job vacancies have continued to grow.