23,000 unemployed under National

The Labour Market Statistics were released today, showing that unemployment has dropped to 4.9% - the first time it has been under 5% in National's entire 8 year term of office. And yet there are still 128,000 unemployed - 23,000 more than when they took office.

Not that 5% unemployment is anything to crow about. Labour managed to get it down to 3.5% and less during their term by manipulating monetary policy. National has simply let it fester to keep wages low. And the result is widespread poverty and a more unequal society. It would be nice to have a government which actually prioritised these issues rather than abandoning people to the market.