Green Party Proposes $4.9 Billion Youth Job Guarantee

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has announced a job guarantee scheme for unemployed citizens aged 16 to 24 as part of the 2026 election. The proposed pilot program, titled Jobs for Young People, is estimated to cost $4.9 billion over four years and aims to return 32,000 young people to the workforce. The initiative targets those who have been unemployed for six months or more, providing roles in infrastructure maintenance, nature renewal, and community services.

Co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick criticized the government of Christopher Luxon for failing to provide sufficient jobs, citing data that shows unemployment among 15- to 19-year-olds has risen to 25.3%. The party intends to scale up the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs to act as connectors, linking youth with employment in the public sector, NGOs, and iwi. The Greens estimate that 95% of these jobs will be located within central government, local government, and non-profit organizations.

The proposal received support from Local Government New Zealand and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. Officials from both organizations stated that local communities are best positioned to deliver employment results when provided with adequate funding. Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Chair Ben Bell welcomed the party's focus on the issue, noting the organization's two-decade history of bipartisan support and results-based funding model.