Council targets youth jobs | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

The Masterton District Council is planning to tackle youth unemployment - but still hasn't decided how to do it.

Councillor Lyn Patterson said at Wednesday's policy and finance committee meeting the council needed to work with the community to see what it could do. "When people are unemployed, it creates other issues in our community," she said.

A visit by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett last month had highlighted how many employers were unaware of a $5000 Winz subsidy to help them take on new employees. "It was [also] suggested there was a need to look at a programme to make people work ready," she said.

Councillor David Holmes said he had taken on work experience students in the past, and it was a huge commitment for an employer. A lot of good people were out there, but there were "a lot of people who don't want to work".

Councillor Graham McClymont agreed. "We always feel like we're taking on such a risk with them," he said.

The council's community development task group will bring back a proposal on the issue to the council. That could include working with the Chamber of Commerce, Winz, and Wairarapa Workforce Development Trust.