Chris Small: ABC Business Sales CEO on the unemployment rate rising to 5.6%, impact of AI episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 6, 2026 · 3 MIN

Chris Small: ABC Business Sales CEO on the unemployment rate rising to 5.6%, impact of AI

from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · host Newstalk ZB

AI might be contributing to our rising unemployment rate.  Stats NZ data shows unemployment jumped to 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in March.   It's the highest rate in 11 years and higher than most economists had been picking.  ABC Business Sales’ Chris Small told Ryan Bridge when you compare the South Island’s rate of 3.7% to the North Island’s 6%, it seems like more of a white-collar problem than a blue-collar one.  He says AI is filling a bit of a void for some business owners, which means they’re not hiring as many people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Chris Small: ABC Business Sales CEO on the unemployment rate rising to 5.6%, impact of AI

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