33116 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

33116 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), from 1 July 2025 to 1 July 2026, how many, if any, Jobseeker Support exits counted towards the reduction target, broken down per month, by attributions to paid employment, sanctions, benefit cancellation, transfer to another benefit, loss of eligibility, or another reason?

Hon Louise Upston: The Government has set a target of reducing the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030. The Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) remain focused on helping people move into sustainable employment and reducing the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support. I am advised that the monthly phased reduction target is not based directly on the number of benefit exits. Instead, the target is the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support at any given time. Benefit exits are just one factor that affects this number. Therefore, the Ministry cannot provide the information requested by the member. The Ministry supports the Government's target through a range of employment-focused initiatives, including job matching, work-readiness activities, training opportunities, wage subsidies and dedicated case management to help people move into and remain in employment. This is also my response to WPQ 33117 (2026)