Unemployment has surged to its highest level in close to nine years, with young people bearing the brunt of the crisis.
"The Government must take ownership for its decision to cut thousands of jobs, and then punish those left unemployed," says the Green Party spokesperson for Social Development and Employment, Ricardo Menéndez March.
"Since mid-2023, this Government has driven the loss of 150,000 jobs in Aotearoa, including 80,000 jobs in the 15-35 age bracket.
"This isn't just an economic crisis. The Government's economic decisions are creating a social crisis with an immeasurable, disproportionate impact on our young people.
"With unemployment rising to 15.2 per cent for 15-24-year-olds, and 5.2 per cent for 25-34-year-olds, it's clear this Government is punching down on young people at a disproportionate rate.
"Luxon needs to stop misleading the public and pretending job losses were inevitable. This was a deliberate move by this Government to cut jobs and punish the unemployed instead of taxing the wealthy few to create thousands of jobs and quality infrastructure.
"It never had to be this way. We have a plan to provide people with meaningful work. Our Green Jobs Guarantee will deliver an initial 40,000 jobs to rebuild our infrastructure, restore nature, and build homes for people to live in.
"Our Future Workforce Agency, Mahi Anamata, will actively plan for the skills we need. We'll revitalise and supercharge the roaring success of Jobs for Nature, and ensure everyone who wants a good, decent, living wage-paying job will get one.
"The first step to getting there is kicking out Luxon and his corporate cronies," says Ricardo Menéndez March.
