Skyrocketing Jobseeker Numbers in Otago

Jobseeker numbers in Otago are skyrocketing because of the economic fall out of Covid-19. Those on the benefit have climbed almost 50 percent since February, but some areas are more hard hit than others. In the tourist Mecca of the Queenstown Lakes District, an area expected to be among the worst hit nationally by the fallout from the pandemic, those on the dole have multiplied six times since February. And a recently released report by Infometrics suggests it may get far worse, with up to 8000 jobs potentially lost and GDP falling by a quarter. Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult spoke to Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown about the situation.