Unemployment low, but tradies in short supply

EMMA BAILEY AND TIM MCSWEENEY

South Canterbury has a high proportion of superannuitants and invalid beneficiaries, but a low number of unemployment beneficiaries, the latest census reveals.

Nearly one in four residents, aged over 15, claim superannuation, putting the region at 24.1 per cent, while the national average is 16.8 per cent.

In the region, 2.33 per cent of people derived income over the previous year from the unemployment benefit, compared to 2.92 per cent of people across the country.

People collecting the invalids benefit dropped from 3.89 per cent at the last census to 3.22 per cent. This still put the region significantly higher than rest of New Zealand, at 2.38 per cent.

The census considered income from all sources, so people could have several income sources.

Aoraki Development Business and Tourism chief executive Wendy Smith said the census statistics matched the statistics around employment she had seen.

"It aligns very well with the other statistics and is not surprising.

"It is representative of the strong job opportunities that are out there and the low unemployment figures."

She said there were a range of different employment opportunities because the region was not just based on one industry.

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Unemployment low, but tradies in short supply