More New Zealanders are receiving the benefit, despite the country's falling unemployment rate.

The number of people defined as "work ready" and receiving the jobseeker benefit has increased 15 percent in the past 12 months.

Economist Cameron Bagrie says that may be partly due to benefits increasing.

He told Mike Hosking the number of people on other forms of benefits has remained relatively unchanged.

He says the rise of jobseeker benefits seems out of step with the shortage of workers.