Sizeable increase in Live Register figures

1 Jul 2005

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed is concerned by the sizeable increase of 8,474 in the numbers on the live register for June 2005. However, the annual reduction of 9,652 is welcomed. The total number of people claiming an unemployment payment now stands at 159,300, with the seasonally adjusted figure being 156,700.

‘The recently published ESRI commentary predicts strong economic growth in the short and medium term. While this is welcomed we are concerned that the gap between the rich and poor could widen with the result that those currently outside the labour market could be pushed further back and experience continued discrimination and / or exclusion’, said June Tinsley, Policy Officer, INOU.

‘Also another factor is the sustainability of the jobs growth, for instance at present one in eight employees are employed in the construction industry. We call on employers and the State to ensure that these employees engaged in more precarious jobs are given ongoing training to increase their employability should they become redundant’, she added.