The Live Register falls but

3 Nov 2010

"The drop is today's Live Register figure and the slowdown in redundancies may be welcome but it would be foolish to assume we have turned a corner just yet," noted Bríd O'Brien, Head of Policy and Media with the INOU.

There are three main reasons the live register is falling. One is the increased number of people engaging in education and training; two is the increased number of people emigrating; and three is the number of people who are not making the transition from Jobseekers Benefit to Jobseekers Allowance because of their family circumstances.

By the end of October 2010 there were 51,385 redundancies which is already the second highest redundancy figure Ireland has ever seen. Three sectors continue to dominate these figures: other services; building and civil engineering; and other manufacturing.

"The INOU is very conscious that a significant number of unemployed people are looking for supports to re-train themselves, to find a job but they cannot access any supports because they are no longer on the Live Register," Bríd continued.

The INOU is also hearing from individuals and local affiliates of the severe difficulties facing people who have to wait up to 9 weeks for their claim for Jobseekers Allowance to be processed after their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit runs out. "An apparent drop in the Live Register is cold comfort to these families," concluded Bríd.