9. Question No. 9—Social Development and EmploymentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 9—Social Development and Employment9. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many more people if any are on the jobseeker benefit as recorded in the June 2023 quarter compared to the September 2017 quarter and how many more people if any spent more than a year on the jobseeker benefit as recorded in the June 2023 quarter compared to the September 2017 quarter? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): It is hard for some to reconcile our near-record unemployment rates our record labour force participation and employment rates and the record number of Kiwis in work with benefit numbers because it is complex. Despite the strength of the labour market we do have 52404 more New Zealanders receiving jobseeker support than in September 2017 with 34872 for more than a year. But as at July around 37000 of our job seekers are actually earning an income while on benefit 16 percent more than in 2017 and in March 2011—three years after the beginning of the global financial crisis—12.3 percent of our working-age population were receiving a main benefit. In March 2023 three years after the beginning of the global pandemic that number is 11.1 percent. We have come through COVID strong but we certainly know that there is more to do. Hon Louise Upston: Can she explain why despite two years of businesses crying out for staff all over the country there are now over 57000 more people on the jobseeker benefit and there are 35000 more people who've spent longer than a year so are now long-term welfare recipients under her watch? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I said it is hard to reconcile our near-record low unemployment and more Kiwis in employment with the benefit numbers sometimes because it is complex. But I do want to just mention that more than 100000 Kiwis moved off benefit and into employment last year. That was 25.7 percent higher than the 79737 in 2017. I'm very proud of the investment we have put into upskilling and training and supporting New Zealanders into employment. We need to continue that work and we certainly are the people to do that. Hon Louise Upston: Can she explain why after two years of businesses in every part of New Zealand being desperate for staff there is a record 211000 children being raised in benefit-dependent homes under her Government? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I want to say that the children that are living in homes that are receiving a benefit are better off under us because of the investment that we've made and I'm really proud of that. We continue to support their parents including those sole parents who are on benefit with things like the Training Incentive Allowance which has been reinstated under us. It was axed under the former National Government and I would be fearful if I was a New Zealander about what could potentially be cut in the welfare system if they had the opportunity to take the reins. Hon Louise Upston: Does the Minister take any responsibility for consigning more New Zealanders to a life of welfare dependency—and their children—and wasting a golden opportunity to support New Zealanders into work? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: What I take responsibility for are the over 5000 young people that have successfully gone through Mana in Mahi; over 50000 New Zealanders who have participated in the Apprenticeship Boost programme; nearly 30000 I believe with Flexi-wage; and the nearly 5000 who have taken up the training incentive allowance. That's what we take responsibility for. Ricardo Menéndez March: Will she commit to expanding the Working for Families package so that it reaches all families including those on a jobseeker benefit to honour the critical work that caregivers do? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I have said in the House before the review is still under way and there will be a report back to Cabinet before the end of the year.