13 Oct 2009

Unemployment benefit numbers likely to continue to rise - PM

5:52 am on 13 October 2009

Prime Minister John Key says it's likely the number of people taking up the unemployment benefit will continue to rise - despite a recent halt in that rise.

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.

Mr Key says it's important to realise that there is a seasonality to the figures.

He says students coming out of their studies always have an impact.

Mr Key says it's likely the numbers of people taking up the umemployment benefit will top out in mid-2010.