3. Youth Unemployment—Household Labour Force SurveyGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of FinanceYouth Unemployment—Household Labour Force Survey3. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Has the number of 15- to 24-year-olds not in education employment or training according to the Household Labour Force Survey increased since the same quarter last year; if so by how many?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): The number of 15- to 24-year-olds who were unemployed and not in education in the June 2017 quarter according to the household labour force survey released yesterday is 29000 and that is the exact same number as recorded in the 2016 June quarter. In the wider neets" situation the total number for "neets" for June 2017 is down 12000 on the last quarter down 17000 on the December quarter and 1000 down on the September 2016 quarter but yes I can confirm for the member that he has found a quarter that is up 3000 on that June quarter. Grant Robertson: So to confirm for the Minister compared with the exact same quarter last year there are 3000 more 15- to 24-year-olds not in employment education or training and why is that? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well again for the member I confirm for him—and I think I have illustrated that in the answer to the primary question—that the numbers do move around a bit from quarter to quarter. The figures in June are 12000 down on the March quarter 17000 down on the December quarter and 1000 down on the September 2016 quarter and I can confirm for him it is up 3000 on the same time last year. Grant Robertson: Why are there 3000 more 15- to 24-year-olds not in employment education or training compared with the exact same quarter last year? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well I cannot give him the exact answer but I can tell him that it is not because they are unemployed because the number who are unemployed—as I have pointed out to him in answer to the primary question—and who are not in education is exactly the same number as it was in June last year. So I invite the member to have a look at table 15 in the household labour force survey and if he is interested compare the numbers—of which there are about a dozen—from June 2017 back to 2016 and he can make his own call. Grant Robertson: Why according to the household labour force survey in comparison with the exact same quarter last year are there more young people not in education employment or training in Auckland Waikato Manawatū-Whanganui Tasman Nelson Marlborough West Coast Canterbury and Otago? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well there are slightly more in those areas and slightly less in other areas. Can I point out to the member that he is talking about a population of 667000 people aged 15 to 24 and today in his wisdom he is debating the figure of 3000 in June of last year. Look I encourage him to continue in his line of questioning but I can point out to him that compared with June last year the number of young people unemployed who are not in education is exactly the same. Grant Robertson: After 9 years of being in Government why are there more 15- to 24-year-olds not in education employment or training? And if he does not know why why does he not just give up now? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am in this weird universe where Mr Robertson seems to think that he knows exactly what a very very small proportion of the 667000 young people aged 15 to 24 are doing. What I can point out to him is that the figures are nearly identical to last year significantly down on the last quarter and significantly down on the quarter before that so only in Mr Robertson's warped world could it be called an increase."