Teenage wasteland or tough love?

Over the weekend, social development minister Louise Upston and prime minister Christopher Luxon announced that tighter rules for unemployed young people will be instated from November 2026, earlier than originally planned. The changes include an income threshold for parents, whereby earning more than a certain amount as a household would disqualify an 18 or 19-year-old from receiving Jobseeker Support. It also includes a $1,000 bonus for those who become employed and stay employed for a year.

Let’s take a look at some of the numbers.

15,045

The number of 18-19 year-olds receiving Jobseeker Support , as of June 2025.

$268.13

The current jobseeker rate (after tax) that a single 18-19 year-old living at home would receive. If they moved out, the number goes up to $314.72.

190,000

The number of New Zealanders on the Jobseeker Support Benefit in December 2023, when the government set its targets.

50,000

The government’s target net reduction in New Zealanders on the Jobseeker Support Benefit by 2030 (140,000 total).

216,000

The number of New Zealanders on the Jobseeker Support Benefit in June 2025, a net increase of 26,000. The target is currently marked as “at risk” of not being achieved, but the report notes that the increase should be stemmed “as economic conditions improve, and as welfare system interventions are embedded over 2025 and 2026”.

41%

The two-year increase in Jobseeker Support claims for 18-24-year-olds.

4,300

The number of young people the government expects to lose entitlement to support due to this new policy.

391

The number of days until the new conditions begin (November 2026).

2027

The year this policy was supposed to start (in July). 

$65,000

The combined income threshold set down by the government. If parents earn this much per year (or more), then their 18-19-year-old won’t be entitled to the Jobseeker benefit. There will be a “parental assistance test” to determine who qualifies, and who doesn’t.

27

The number of hours each parent in a two-parent household would have to work (if receiving minimum wage) to hit the threshold. 

26.5

The number of hours each parent could work to remain under the threshold and have their child qualify for the full Jobseeker Support Benefit.

$90,741

The average annual household income (from wages and salaries) last year, up 8.9%. Stuff reckons a household needs to bring in $125k a year to “live comfortably” in Aotearoa.

$24

The median hourly wage/salary for 15-19 year-olds, as of June 2025, which was up 1.3%. For 45-49 year-olds, the number is $40, an increase of 4.1%.

$23.50

New Zealand’s minimum wage for adults, as long as you’re over 16 and not a trainee or “starting out”… those categories have a lower rate.

$18.80

The minimum hourly rate for employees that are “starting out” or  “training”. This applies if you’re 18-19 and “have been paid one or more specified social security benefits for six months or more continuously” and “not worked for one employer for six continuous months” since getting a benefit. There are also caveats around industry qualifications.

$28.95

The hourly rate considered to provide a living wage. 

51%

The percentage of New Zealand’s 112,500 homeless people under the age of 25, and the number of young people is increasing – at crisis levels according to some charities. Community providers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch all report an increase in homelessness and rough sleeping.

$1,000

A bonus payment that 18-24-year-olds could be entitled to if they secured one of the 4,000 slots in the Ministry of Social Development’s job coaching service, got a job and stayed off the benefit for a year.

5.2%

New Zealand’s unemployment rate.

12.9%

The percentage of 15-24-year-olds not in employment, education or training (NEET), up from 12% in June 2024. The majority are in their 20s. Broken down by region, the figure is highest in Northland, at 18.1%. 

5%

The increase in how many 15-24 year-olds are “in education” – 18,000 more than last year – which, according to labour market spokesperson Jason Attewell, could be linked to employment figures. “Current labour market conditions could be influencing young people to enter or remain in education.” 

$69,935.32 

The threshold of parental income (jointly, before tax) that affects your student allowance – a benefit that goes up to $277.72 (after tax) if you live with a parent while studying, or $323.33 if your parents don’t own or pay for your home, or you’ve moved out.

If your parents’ before-tax parental income is $127,701.81 or more (and you live with them) you’re not entitled to the student allowance; that limit goes up to $137,187.86 if you don’t live at home.

13

The number of sectors now eligible for the Apprenticeship Boost scheme which saw tighter conditions from January 1. The government has limited the payment (given to employers who take on new apprentices) to targeted industries like agriculture, hospitality and aerospace engineering.

$163 million

The amount of money the policy was expected to save over four years, when it was first announced. Savings are expected to be $84 million a year by 2027, according to Budget documents. 

18

“People under the age of 25 on Jobseeker support will spend an average of 18 or more years on a benefit over their lifetimes,” said Upston.

9,758

The reduction in number of “actual filled jobs” for 15-19 year-olds, down 8.2%, on last year, according to Stats NZ’s August Employment Indicators data – much more than other age groups.

30,000

The number of people who moved to Australia last year.

2,454

The number of “no experience required” jobs listed on Seek right now, predominantly working in retail, warehousing, customer service and delivery. 

1,200

The number of people who applied for one admin job in a two-day period last year.

4,000

The number of jobs disestablished in the public sector (though there are 2,000 news ones according to The Post).

175

Kilometres from Auckland to Dargaville, where the prime minister said there was work, specifically in the kūmara industry where they’re “desperate to get young people into it”. There are not currently many jobs being advertised for kūmara work in Dargaville but job listings from the past 12 months suggest most of the work there is seasonal (up to two months) and marketed to backpackers.