The number of people on a benefit has reached a new record and could keep rising, despite an uptick in sanctions. 

June quarter data shows 11.9% of working-age people are receiving a benefit - the highest since December 2020. 

It's an annual increase of 8.3%. 

Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Rennie told Ryan Bridge the number of people on Jobseeker will keep rising. 

He said unemployment is always a bad thing, as the more people working means there are more households with money in their pockets, and poverty starts to fall.  

Rennie said that unemployment is never a thing you should be aiming for, it’s always something you should be avoiding. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• "We're not sitting on our hands": Govt sets "ambitious" beneficiary reduction target