Increased unemployment figures are a sign of a stronger overall economy, claims one expert.

Stats NZ figures show unemployment has crept up to 4 percent- the highest level since June 2021.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says the number of employed people in the country has also increased over this quarter.

"When we looked through the numbers, we saw that the labour force in December was about 15,000 people larger than it had been back in September. Of those 15,000 who were looking for work, 12,000 got it and 3,000 didn't."

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