Bay of Plenty Sole Parent benefit numbers strongest drop in New Zealand

The Bay of Plenty has experienced the strongest drop in people receiving the Sole Parent Support benefit in the country, dropping 9 per cent in December 2016 compared to December 2015.

New Zealand had a nationwide reduction of 5 per cent. Auckland had the second highest decrease with 6.4 per cent.

The number of people in the Bay of Plenty on a main benefit also went down by 4.2 per cent last December compared to December 2015.

Bay of Plenty Regional Commissioner for Social Development Mike Bryant said it was encouraging to see fewer people in the region on the Sole Parent benefit, with the Western Bay of Plenty Work and Income region seeing a drop of 286 people.

"Better access to child care and transport assistance and a focus on jobs that meet sole parent child care responsibilities have all contributed," he said.

Mr Bryant said the steady improvement in the Bay's labour market, the growth in the Western Bay of Plenty, and the increased tourism and hospitality opportunities over the Christmas period was favourable for job seekers.

"Over the same period Jobseeker Support also saw a reduction in the Bay of Plenty from 12,847 to 12,345," he said.

Annie Hill of Priority One said the main reason for the decrease in benefits, particularly in Tauranga and the Western Bay, was the region's job growth for the last two years.

"The important thing is that this job growth is across most industry sectors and also in higher value jobs in high value industries, rather than previously when population growth drove economic growth.

"The feedback we continue to receive is that businesses see a very positive future here."

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec said he was not surprised with the benefit reduction given the Bay's "buoyant local economy at the moment".

"There seems to be jobs for just about everyone, who wants to and is able to work."

However he said there were more people now working in "less than a full-time role and not necessarily in traditional employment".

"So let's not conclude that everything is too rosy in the garden.

"Will it continue? Who knows? If nothing changes too much in the current climate, there's no reason why the trend won't last."

Kinetic Recruitment senior consultant Cherie Hill said she had "definitely" seen an increase in companies wanting to employ people.

"I've also found the candidates I've met who have been on benefits are good (in comparison to job seekers on benefits in other regions of NZ) and only on a benefit because of the economic environment locally."

Youth Guarantee

Toi Ohomai's director of education and Maori development, Kieran Hewitson, said more people were choosing to take part in courses such as the Fees Free Youth Guarantee and the Trades Academy, meaning more students were learning essential working skills straight from school, or during school time.

Students were able to relate real-life scenarios with valuable literacy and numeracy skills in the free Youth Guarantee Programme.

"The Youth Guarantee Programme is about getting more 16-19 year olds achieving NCEA Level 2," she said. "It allows them to study in an adult environment and supports the student to pathway on to further study or into work."

Sole Parent Support December 2015

(December 2015 figure in brackets)
Mount Maunganui (667) 605, down 62
Te Puke (275) 260, down 15
Tauranga (818) 693, down 125
Greerton (839) 755, down 84
Total (2,599) 2,313, down 286