Bay bucks trend with jobless rate hitting 8pc

Chamber of Commerce (above) MugCaption1Max Mason The Bay of Plenty is one of the only regions in New Zealand to experience a rise in unemployment since Christmas, with latest figures showing the region's unemployment rate jumping to 8 per cent - the highest in years.
A Household Labour Force Survey released yesterday showed a national fall in unemployment.
However, the Bay of Plenty experienced an increase, with unemployment rising from 7.4 per cent in December. The rate was 6.1 per cent 12 months ago. In March 2008, the figure was 5.2 per cent.
Northland was the only other region in the North Island to experience an increase in unemployment. Their figures rose from 9.2 per cent in December 2009, to 9.4 per cent this March.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason said the local economy was "all over the place" at the moment. It was likely this was reflected in the unemployment statistics.
"The reason behind the state of the economy is pretty patchy," he said.
"What is happening is that some industries, and the businesses within them, have picked up while others have gone down." 
Mr Mason said many in the business sector were holding their breath for the budget, due out later this month, before making major decisions.
"I think in six months' time, things will definitely improve," he said.
Nationally, unemployment dropped 1.1 per cent, to 6 per cent.
Prime Minister John Key said he was cautiously optimistic about the figures, which showed the largest fall in unemployment on record in the March quarter.
 
"I think it's very pleasing news because it means more New Zealanders are back in work," Mr Key said.
"I would hasten to add that I think there is always volatility in the Household Labour Force Survey number, and so it may well be the 7.3 per cent number (last quarter's rate - later adjusted to 7.1) was a bit high, and it could well be that the 6 per cent number technically is a bit low.
"But what we do know is that the trend is going in the right direction - unemployment is falling."
Mr Key said it also showed government policies were working and "we haven't blown the bank by having an enormous budget deficit relative to other countries". 
The figures represent a swell in the workforce of 22,000 people.
Social Development, Employment and Youth Minister Paula Bennett said she was "thrilled" with the figures but also accepted there was a long way to go.
The number of unemployed young people fell by 6500 over the last quarter to 66,300.
Unemployment among Maori and Pacific Island people was still high and was an area which needed attention, Ms Bennett said.
New Zealand's 6 per cent unemployment rate compares to Britain's 7.8 per cent, Australia's 5.3 per cent, Canada's 8.2 per cent and Ireland's 13.1 per cent.