Employment numbers

GOOD news — unless you are a woman, Maori, Pasifika or under the age of 30.

Statistics New Zealand made something of a splash last week when it released the latest New Zealand unemployment figures.

They revealed, unexpectedly, that the December jobless rate — tipped by some to feature a decent spike due to the long tail of Covid19, and the reality of life after government wage subsidies — had dropped from 5.3% to 4.9%.

The reaction in the immediate aftermath of the news was excitement bordering on gushing.

Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said he was ‘‘absolutely flabbergasted’’ unemployment had dropped to that extent, and Stats NZ work and wellbeing manager Becky Collett said the figures meant New Zealand had the fifthhighest employment rate among 15 to 64yearolds in the OECD.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the figures were ‘‘positive’’, certainly when judged by the doomsday predictions of a rate as high as 10%, and that the Government’s focus would stay on “keeping the economy moving in the right direction and building back better” by investing in education, skills and training.

In The New Zealand Herald, business editor Liam Dann pointed to the construction boom as a key factor in the fall in unemployment.

‘‘But underpinning all that,’’ Dann wrote, ‘‘it confirms that New Zealand’s response to the Covid19 pandemic has been an utterly outstanding success. A strong health response was the best economic response. That argument is settled.’’

Like anything, the numbers do not tell the whole story.

While it is indeed excellent news the overall number of unemployed people in New Zealand dropped by about 10,000 in the December quarter, some other numbers make disappointing reading.

Female unemployment continues to be slightly out of whack — numbers fell by 5000, the same as men, but the female rate is 5.4% versus the male rate of 4.5%.

The Council of Trade Unions said the figures also showed a clear racial divide. The number of Maori unemployed increased from 8.4%, or 33,400, at the end of 2019, to 9%, or 36,000, last year.

The unemployment rate for Pasifika people leaped from 7.2%, or 14,500 people, to 9.6%, or 17,500 people.

These numbers tally with the theme of Covid having the biggest effect on industries typically dominated by women, Maori and Pasifika.

Finally, youth unemployment is on the rise. Fifteen to 29yearolds out of work rose from 8.4% to 10.1%.

It is hard to disagree with CTU economist and policy director Craig Renny, who — while pointing out the number of people unemployed was 21.9% higher than a year ago — argued the Government needed to be doing more to address that sort of inequality.

Closing the gender and racial gaps are ongoing challenges that must not be shirked.

Covid19 does not discriminate when it comes to infection, but its economic effects have not been shared equally.

Recognising, and taking steps to address, that fact remains a challenge at the top level. More must be done.