Huge increase in long-term unemployment

21 Sep 2010

Today the Central Statistics Office released the Quarterly National Household Survey for Quarter 2 2010. Quarter 2 covers the months April to June. The figures released today underline the chronic state of unemployment in Ireland said John Stewart, INOU Co-ordinator. Unemployment, as measured by the QNHS, now stands at 293,600 or 13.2%. There are 127,000 people out of work for a year or more which represents an increase of over 69,000 in the year. Long-term unemployment accounts for 43.3% of total unemployment compared to 21.7% a year ago. This is a cause for huge concern and demands an urgent response from Government.

Over the past year, the numbers in full-time employment fell by 83,200. The largest decrease being in the construction sector where there were 31,300 fewer full-time jobs. Youth unemployment also continues to rise with an unemployment rate among young people aged 15 - 19 of 40.6%.

The impact of unemployment on the individual can be acute, the impact of long-term unemployment can be catastrophic. Unemployed people need hope that their situation will improve and, to date, we have simply not seen the same priority or resources being given to tackling unemployment and particularly long-term unemployment as has been given to dealing with the banking crisis. What is urgently needed is an integrated Jobs Strategy that gives unemployed people hope of the prospect of a decent job in the future, John concluded.