Recession hits hard as more jobs are lost

Recession hits hard as more jobs are lost

Service users of Downtown Community Ministry are feeling the brunt of the recession says Outreach Worker Kate Bell.

“One woman on the benefit was working part-time at a hotel and was laid off, another woman had her hours cut down significantly.”

A number of DCM service users who held part-time or casual work are losing them due to an overall reduction in jobs.

The first few months of 2009 saw a loss of 7,000 jobs, and with 115,000 New Zealanders unemployed, the numbers are still rising due to the current global economic crisis.

Statistics from a March 2009 survey showed unemployment had risen to 5.0%. Another survey showed that a net 32% of firms intended to cut staff numbers over the March 2009 quarter, the highest number since June 1999 when unemployment was at 11%.

DCM Senior Social Worker Dougal Speir says, “Employers do not have the funds or the resources to be training new staff members, so finding work is proving to be a difficult task.”

There are major benefits for beneficiaries to have part-time work says DCM Director Stephanie McIntyre, “It takes a person out of having an unsustainable income and gives them financial independence, which means they are not so reliant on our services,”

“It also greatly improves peoples’ wellbeing as they get out of the house and have meaningful activity to fill their day. Many of our service users say how great having a job makes them feel.”

ENDS

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