John Key would do well to find a real solution, rather than an elegant one, to the jobless dilemma, Labour's Employment spokesperson Su'a William Sio says.

"Statistics out today show that employment is only just keeping pace with the growth in the working age population, and that while there was a slight increase in the number of people employed, the Government is still failing our young people.

"Getting young Kiwis into employment, education or training was a key platform for National in the run-up to the election.

"Yet the number of 15-19 year olds not doing any of those increased by 5000 in the three months to December 2011, meaning the total number of jobless young people between the ages of 15 and 24 has risen by a staggering 17,000 since John Key first took office," Su'a William Sio said.

"This is a tragic waste of talent and potential, which will cost us dearly in the long-term.

"The figures mask the true state of employment in this country. The Rugby World Cup and the election would have created a number of short-term, low-paid jobs. These statistics cover that period.

"Worryingly the statistics also show a decline in fulltime jobs. Coinciding with that more women are working and there are more part-time jobs - meaning more Kiwis are having to supplement family incomes with part-time work or a secondary part-time job.

"John Key promised to create 170,000 jobs in four years. He needs to find another 26,000 in the next quarter if he's going to get anywhere near fulfilling that promise.

"The Prime Minister needs to do more than sit on his hands and wait for the market forces to do his work. There are 150,000 people ready, willing, able and looking for jobs that aren't there," Su'a William Sio said. "Now what was that about a brighter future?"