Craig Rennie: Council of Trade Unions Economist on the record number of beneficiaries

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The number of people on a benefit has reached a new record and could keep rising, despite an uptick in sanctions.

June quarter data shows 11.9% of working-age people are receiving a benefit - the highest since December 2020.

It's an annual increase of 8.3%.

Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Rennie told Ryan Bridge the number of people on Jobseeker will keep rising.

He said unemployment is always a bad thing, as the more people working means there are more households with money in their pockets, and poverty starts to fall.

Rennie said that unemployment is never a thing you should be aiming for, it’s always something you should be avoiding.

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