Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The Government's efforts to secure the recovery have been reflected in the latest employment figures. Statistics New Zealand reported that seasonally adjusted filled jobs grew 0.4 percent in May 2021 compared with a month earlier. The number of jobs is now 0.6 percent above its pre-COVID peak. On an annual basis, the biggest gains have been in the health, social assistance, and construction sectors. The sectors that had been affected by the closure of the border in response to COVID such as hospitality are still down on pre-COVID levels. Westpac bank commented that "The overall demand for labour is strong at the moment, as demonstrated by the sharp rise in job advertisements in recent months. The monthly employment indicator, along with the decline in Jobseeker Benefit payments, suggests that those positions are being filled." The Government is playing its part in supporting businesses and workers, including through Budget 2021 boosting skills and training initiatives to allow people to transition more easily into different types of work. 