PTC and Neopole, I share your impending gloom over the next two years.. and PTC was correct to talk to Phil Goff with his thoughts, because Labour is after feedback right now, as per usual. I'm not worried about those on welfare, many of them would get a job and arrange someone else to help with childcare or other issues, if there were lots of part-time jobs available, if the pay was suitably above minimum rates, if the job was close to their home.
Manufacturing is one area that does this flexible employment well: the work can be done at any hour of the day or night, it's not retail, can be picked up quickly, although the work might be sporadic, as it feeds on orders. So to get fast improvements around here, we need strong manufacturers, good employers, and probably sales to overseas markets. Labour is very keen on this area, it fits with their party policies well.