1 in 10 people in Rotorua on benefits

Fewer Rotorua people are on benefits. Photo/File

About one in 10 people are on benefits in Rotorua, although latest figures show the number has dropped slightly from a year ago.

There were 179 fewer people on a main benefit in December last year compared with December 2015, latest figures show.

There were a total of 7227 people on main benefits last month compared with 7406 in December 2015.

Bay of Plenty regional commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development Mike Bryant said it was encouraging to see fewer people in the Bay of Plenty Work and Income Region receiving a Sole Parent Support benefit, with the number reducing by 9 per cent in the year to December 2016 (to 6833).

He said in the Rotorua Service Centre, they had also seen a drop over the same period with the number receiving Sole Parent Support dropping by 263 to 2034.

"Sole parents in the main are highly motivated and possess a range of very relevant skills and experiences that add real value to any workplace."

Mr Bryant said people wanted to improve their lives and case managers were working closely with clients to ensure their needs were met.

An active case management approach enabled more sole parents to enter the labour market or to increase their part-time or casual employment, he said.

He said better access to childcare and transport help and a focus on jobs that meet sole parent child care responsibilities had all contributed.

Mr Bryant said the number of people receiving other types of benefits typically increased in December.

"Generally, more people come onto benefit when university and other courses finish at the end of the year.

"At the same time, fewer go off benefit into work as companies often reduce hiring over the holiday period.

He said Jobseeker numbers were expected to reduce again over the next few months and this would be reflected in the March quarter figures.

"The Rotorua labour market has been steadily improving and will continue to do so.

"We appreciate employers and industry groups who are prepared to give people an opportunity and we value the relationships we have with them."

He said now was a good time for those employers looking to recruit as they had a pool of work ready people available.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said the number of people receiving a benefit was continuing to decline year on year, with sole parents driving the biggest reduction in numbers.

"Sole parents continue to show a willingness to move into independence, with 3410 [5 per cent] fewer people now receiving Sole Parent Support compared to the same time last year.

"All regions saw a fall in this benefit type compared to December 2015, with the strongest reductions in Bay of Plenty and Auckland, down 9 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively."

Employers can phone Job Connect on 0800 778 008 or go to www.workandincome.govt.nz/employers if they wish to lodge a vacancy or recruit staff.