Jobless moving to Christchurch

Stuff reports:

A scheme dangling a $3000 carrot for jobless to relocate to Canterbury for work has had a five-fold surge in takers in the past two months.

The Government’s “$3k to Christchurch” has brought more than 350 newly employed workers into the region at a cost of more than $1 million.

In total, the incentive scheme is expected to cost up to $3.5m and aims to shift 1000 workers.

A quarter were aged between 20 and 24, and 197 of them landed work in the construction industry.

In July, a month after its launch, 40 men and 10 women met the criteria and had moved.

To receive a grant, clients must have a confirmed fulltime job offer (30 hours a week or more) in the Christchurch area and be ready to relocate.

350 jobless people have now moved to Christchurch with the grant and gained work. A win-win.