Ross Jami-Lee: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ross Jami-Lee: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:671;Page:18024] 
9. 
JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: How many young people have benefited from the Government’s job opportunities programme? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Thanks to the vision of this Government and the support of around 7000 New Zealand businesses over 10000 young people have been given work through Job Ops. When we introduced Job Ops we were facing the worst recession since the 1930s and this has made a real difference for those young people. 
Jami-Lee Ross 
: What do we know about these young people who have completed a Job Ops placement? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: We know that of the 4577 young people who have completed their Job Ops placement so far about 90 percent are not on a benefit. That is about 4153 young people. Although it is not a requirement to record where they go we know that 70 percent of those young people or 3190 have secured full-time or part-time employment. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Can she confirm that there are currently 58000 young people not in employment education or training; and if not how many are there? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: According to the latest household labour force survey for the group aged 15 to 24 years the unemployment rate is at 16.8 percent. In the December 2011 quarter there were 6200 fewer 15 to 24-year-olds on the unemployment benefit. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Although the Minister might have some advantages I think that quoting December 2011 figures is probably not amongst them and maybe she might like to correct her figures. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this a further point of order? 
Jacinda Ardern 
: It is. I also wish to clarify that my question was about what is titled the “neets” which is young people not in employment education or training as opposed to the household labour force survey. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will deal with the point of order that is perhaps of more substance although I appreciate the member’s point. The question was commendably direct and contained no implied criticism whatsoever. It asked whether the Minister could confirm a certain figure in relation to a group of young people and if not what the actual figure was. Maybe the Minister does not have that particular figure in the House although the primary question would have alerted the Minister to this kind of likely supplementary question. I believe that the Minister should attempt to answer that question although if she does not have the information that is fine but it was a very simple question about the number of young people. 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: First may I correct my answer. It was indeed in the December 2010 quarter that 6200 fewer 15 to 24-year-olds were unemployed. I do not have the actual number; I have the percentage in front of me which is what I was giving in response to the member’s question. I do not have the “neet” number but I have the percentage which is considerably lower at 16.8 percent.