Increases in Live Register not surprising

6 Feb 2004

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed is very concerned, albeit not surprised, by the latest rise in Live Register figures announced today. The figures reveal a monthly increase of 3,925 bringing the total number of people on the Live Register to 174,529. The seasonally adjusted figures also increased by 1,200.

‘These increases in the Live Register along with the high level of redundancies announced in January makes the outlook for 2004 bleak’, said June Tinsley, Policy Officer INOU. ‘The Government is not doing enough to stem this rise and to tackle the number of redundancies being announced. Decisive actions to stem rising manufacturing costs together with creating favourable entrepreneural conditions are needed’.

There was a striking gender breakdown in this month rise of 3,925 - comprising of 3,374 men and 551 women. Monthly increases were recorded in all regions with the highest being in Dublin.