Strong employment growth welcomed, but youth unemployment a concern

2 Mar 2005

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed welcomes the strong employment growth that was recorded in 2004. The numbers at work increased by 65,200 or 3.6% in the year and this is the highest annual employment growth since 2001. Correspondingly, the numbers of people unemployed have decreased to 85,600. This is an annual reduction of 8,300. However, the numbers who are long term unemployed are continuing to increase.

‘On one side, the increase in the numbers at work is welcome, however on the other side the extent of long term unemployment and youth unemployment is particularly worrying’, said Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary. ‘The number of people experiencing long term unemployment, that is at least one year unemployed, has increased by nearly 9000 since 2001. The current figure is 28,900. Even more worrying is that those aged 15-24 years made up the largest increase in the long term unemployment figures’.

Youth unemployment is not only a concern for Ireland but is prevalent throughout Europe. This cohort can be very vulnerable to long term unemployment especially if they have left school early with no qualifications or left education to take up low skilled low paid jobs. If Ireland’s economic growth is to continue, these young people should not be excluded from this prosperity again and should be given supports to enhance their employability through training, education and lifelong learning.