John MacDonald: The "overqualified" jobseekers behind the dole numbers

There’s no doubt the news that the number of people on a benefit in New Zealand is up to the 400,000 mark will have some people tut-tutting.   

But before we start ripping into the so-called “benefit bludgers”, we need to be very careful.  

Because at the same time that we’re finding out that benefit numbers are up —and the number of people on the dole in particular— 10% compared to last year, we’re also hearing about people over-50 being knocked back time-and-time again when all they’re doing is just trying to find work.  

So the number of people on the Jobseeker benefit is up right around the country.   

The biggest increase has been in Northland but overall, there are 216,000 people on the dole. Which is just over half the overall number of beneficiaries.  

That’s with 81,000 people off a benefit and into work thanks to moves made by the Government, which had former WINZ boss Christine Rankin all excited when she was on Newstalk ZB this morning.   

Social Development Minister Louise Upston also said this morning that thousands of jobs are on the way with the big infrastructure projects in the pipeline.   

Which is all very well, but not everyone works in construction. And the prospect of these big projects coming online won’t provide any reassurance to the over-50s who are over the hill in the eyes of many employers.   

Which is why we shouldn't make assumptions that everyone on the Jobseeker benefit is not in the least bit interested in working.  

Because there are plenty of people —thousands of people we’re being told today— who desperately want to work but can’t because of their age.  

Or, more to the point, they desperately want to work but can’t because some employers are only interested in hiring younger people.  

The founder of a website for people over-50 seeking work has been saying this week that thousands of people have contacted them with stories of being sidelined just because of their age.  

Ian Fraser is the founder of the Seniors at Work website, and he says employers need to change their thinking about these so-called older workers.  

For example, he says not everyone over-50 struggles with technology. He says that excuse comes up all the time. Not that that’s what comes through in the rejection letter – if you do get a rejection letter.  

Then there’s the old line about being over-qualified. But we’re not talking here about people all that long in the tooth, we’re talking about people my age.   

I’m in quite a privileged position of having a job for the next two years. All going well, that is. Providing I don’t completely blow it.  

I’ve got a contract that says, “we want you for the next two years”.  

But I’m as aware as the next person that, when contracts expire, that can be it.  

Which means in two years time I could very well be joining these thousands of people in their 50’s who are finding it impossible to get work because employers aren’t interested in them because of their age. 

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