2. Question No. 2—Social Development and EmploymentRICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 2—Social Development and Employment2. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree with the Minister of Finance's statement that Risking higher inflation in the pursuit of unsustainably high employment just creates the conditions for a more severe hike in interest rates later on to bring inflation back under control"; if so what does she consider to be "unsustainably high employment"?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): On matters relating to the Reserve Bank and monetary policy I have no ministerial responsibility. I have every confidence in the Minister of Finance and her statements. The Government is of course keen to remove barriers to work and see more people shifting off the jobseeker benefit and into work. Judgments that relate to management of the economic cycle and inflation however are best considered by the Reserve Bank.Ricardo Menéndez March: Is the Government relying on job losses to lower inflation?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: No. I feel for everybody that is in a position that has lost the opportunity to be in employment. I know that's incredibly stressful for them and their families which is why we are absolutely focused on supporting more people into work whether they are newly unemployed or whether they have been unemployed for a period of time. We will work with them to support them back into employment.Ricardo Menéndez March: What percentage of the working-age population would she expect to be receiving jobseeker support at a time when unemployment has risen to 4.3 percent and is projected by some economists to go even higher?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Unfortunately we do know of the incredibly challenging economic times that we've inherited. Treasury have forecast the jobseeker numbers to go up to a 198500. That is a horrendous number of New Zealanders that will be without their own source of income. So that is why the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)—we are doing our best to reduce the number of people on the jobseeker benefit to support them into employment to give them greater opportunities and choices in life.Ricardo Menéndez March: Will she commit to ensuring MSD supports people receiving a jobseeker benefit as a result of recent job losses into jobs that match their skills and aspirations and if so how?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said it's incredibly challenging when anyone loses their job at any time. Unfortunately that has been happening across the country now for quite some time and what we do want to see is that New Zealanders are able to return to employment. Unfortunately in some instances that will mean they have to look at a different career a different pathway to provide the opportunity for them to be in work. Families—individuals—need to make choices that are in their family's best interests. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH: Is she comfortable with people losing their jobs as a result of increased unemployment being driven to jobs that pay substantially less than what they were earning before losing their job?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I've said before I accept that it is incredibly challenging and stressful for anyone who has lost their employment. What we want to see is individuals are given the support where they need it to help themselves return to employment. Not for one moment will I allow that member to suggest that that is something that anyone in this House is happy about. That is incredibly distressing for individuals and we are absolutely focused—we are absolutely focused on supporting people back to employment. We inherited a cost of living crisis and a state of the economy that was going so far backwards businesses everywhere were losing staff. Whether its private or public sector anyone losing a job—it's incredibly distressing for them. We must support them back into employment.Ricardo Menéndez March: Will she commit to ensuring MSD matches people with jobs that align with their skills qualifications and aspirations?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I'm not sure that I can say it any more clearly but for people who lose their job being back into work is important for them and their ability to put a roof over their head and food on the table. Sometimes that means making challenging choices but it is about supporting people back into work."