59059 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

59059 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What policies, if any, did the Government introduce in 2025 to help young people under 24 to get jobs in 2025?

Hon Louise Upston: The Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) is supporting jobseekers, including 18- to 24-year-olds, to get into work through the Welfare that Works reforms. This factsheet (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-08/Welfare%20that%20Works%20Factsheet.pdf) outlines the initiatives that were introduced in 2024 and 2025. In October 2025, 4,000 places offering individualized, community job coaching to 18- to 24-year-olds who have been on the benefit for three months or more were introduced as part of the Welfare that Works reforms. Other changes for job seekers, including 18–24-year-old, introduced in 2025 are: • Jobseeker Support clients having to reapply for their benefit every 26-weeks. • A mandatory jobseeker profile being completed for all clients with work obligations before their benefit is granted. • Extending the period over which an obligation failure counts against a client from 12 months to two years. • Introduction of four new non-financial sanctions: o Money management: requires half of a client’s benefit being paid onto a payment card for four weeks. o Community Work Experience: requires clients to find and complete appropriate work experience with a community organisation for four weeks. o Report Job Search: requires clients to undertake and report on a minimum of three job-search activities every week for four weeks o Upskilling: requires clients to attend and participate in one or more employment-related training courses or programmes for a minimum of five hours per week over four weeks. Note: Report Job Search and Upskilling are not included in the factsheet. *Some clarifications in the factsheet include: • Community job coaching mentioned in the factsheet ran from October 2024 to June 2025 and is distinct from Community Job Coaching that commenced in October 2025. • Non-financial sanctions are an option when someone in the target cohort fails an obligation for the first time, they attend an appointment within the five working-day period, and it is deemed appropriate based on the client’s individual circumstances. • Clients who have a non-financial sanction cannot get Emergency Housing Grants or Special Needs Grants, but they can apply for an Advance Payment of Benefit. • Clients who are on Money Management can buy essential items, such as food, but they are not able to purchase clothing.