The Dominion Post reports that interest-free loans for first-home buyers are among a second wave of job-creation measures being worked on by the Government as its job summit gets mixed reviews nearly two months on.

While the jobs summit brainstorming session on February 27 came up with a "top 20" list of initiatives, other proposals that were considered but not adopted at the jobs summit continue to be worked on by ministers, including loans of up to $10,000 to people to build their first home or renovate their existing one.

Others included a housing upgrade plan to fix leaky buildings, interest-free loans for home owners to improve heating and water efficiency; incentives for early retirement and paying employers a subsidy to hold on to apprentices.

Registered Master Builders chief executive Warwick Quinn said the proposals to steer more first-home buyers into building their own home were among those sent off for more work.

Work was also being done on a proposal to cut delays around leaky building disputes so builders could "just get on and fix the problem".

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has confirmed the Government is looking at "an alternative approach" to leaky buildings, with more emphasis on "getting homes fixed".

Cabinet ministers are due to get an update on job-summit progress today but as job losses accelerate, the Government faces criticism that it is not doing enough.

Unemployment hit 4.6 per cent last month and is expected to have passed 5 per cent when the next figures are issued next month.

Council of Trade Unions economist Peter Conway said the summit's success so far in creating jobs had been "pretty modest to say the least, when you consider all the pressures they're putting on the public service and laying people off.

Several hundred jobs have so far been earmarked to go in the public service and more will follow.

In the private sector, the flagship policy to come out of the summit the nine-day fortnight has had limited take-up. Just two companies have signed up, saving 160 jobs. Mr Conway said he was aware of a third, while about 50 companies have begun the process.

Overall, the Government did not appear to be acting with enough urgency.