INOU concern at Largest Live Register Increase in Five Years
4 May 2001
Today's seasonally adjusted Live Register figures show the largest increase since April 1996, according to the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU). The seasonally adjusted figure for April is 139,500, an increase of 1,700 on last month.
" Unfortunately, we are not surprised by these figures" said Tony Monks, INOU General Secretary. " At least 1,000 people are currently signing on due to Foot and Mouth Disease lay-offs. We have also seen widespread job losses in a broad range of sectors since the start of the year."
" For a number of years the threat of unemployment was a distant memory for many workers, now that threat is a very worrying reality."
The Organisation expressed concern that the full effects of Foot and Mouth Disease will not be seen until the end of the summer season. As well as those workers currently affected, they highlighted that people who rely on part time summer work for an income will be very badly hit.
Welcoming yesterday's forecast by the ESRI that a further 300,000 jobs will be created in next five years, the INOU said that the real challenge for Government was to ensure that those currently unemployed had a realistic chance of getting those jobs. The ESRI warned that professionally qualified as opposed to skilled and unskilled workers would be needed.
" Government can be complacent about current unemployment levels, and overlook the thousands of unemployed workers who are trying to get back into work. Or they can ensure that both the long-term and the recently unemployed have a real chance of sustainable work through decent support and training opportunities. Today's figures should be a clear warning against complacency."
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tony Monks, General Secretary 087 249 6066 / 01 856 0088
Noeleen Hartigan, Press Officer 087 61 67689 / 01 856 0088
