Slight drop in Unemployment welcomed

17 Jun 2004

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed welcomes the slight decrease in the numbers of unemployed people recorded in the QNHS first quarter of 2004. The quarterly decrease of 2,300 and annual decrease of 1,800 now brings the total number of unemployed people to 83,600.

The number of those in employment rose by 52,300 in the year to February 2004 and of this increase 85% was made up of full time positions. In contrast however, the long-term unemployment rate rose by 3,800 bringing the total to over 30,000 people.

‘Overall the employment growth and marginal decreases in unemployment are welcome’, said June Tinsley, Policy Officer, INOU. ‘However, it is too premature to say that the economic downturn is behind us as the numbers of those long-term unemployed increased and the level of redundancies recorded so far this year are in excess of the record levels recorded for 2003.’

‘There is a danger that these figures will be over interpreted and fuel the sense of complacency that Ireland has full employment and no further action is required to combat unemployment. If the Government is serious about its target of eliminating long-term unemployment by 2007, then the revelation that the numbers concerned now exceed 30,000 makes that job all the much harder. It unfortunately emphasises that more interventions and supports are needed if this target is to be realised.’