The Council of Trade Unions says a new report showing business confidence at a 10-year high means nothing without more jobs on offer.
The ANZ National Bank's latest monthly business outlook found 50.1% of those surveyed, expect better times ahead.
More than 57% expect business conditions to improve.
However, with the dole queue now at 168,000 and rising, CTU president Helen Kelly says the figures are not grounded in reality.
Ms Kelly says the Government needs to focus on job creation through an extension of the youth opportunity scheme and support for local government infrastructure programmes.
