Unemployment is continuing to rise.

New figures from Stats NZ show the unemployment rate was 4.3% in the March quarter, up 0.3 percentage points from 4% in the December quarter.

The unemployment rate has been steadily rising since reaching a record low of 3.2% in the December 2021 quarter.

Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that the biggest problems businesses are seeing is a slowdown in demand from consumers as opposed to unemployment.

It’s a bit of a crunchy time we’re going through, she said.

LISTEN ABOVE  

Unemployment is continuing to rise. 
New figures from Stats NZ show the unemployment rate was 4.3% in the March quarter, up 0.3 percentage points from 4% in the December quarter. 
The unemployment rate has been steadily rising since reaching a record low of 3.2% in the December 2021 quarter. 
Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that the biggest problems businesses are seeing is a slowdown in demand from consumers as opposed to unemployment. 
It’s a bit of a crunchy time we’re going through, she said. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.