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THE LATEST CSO employment figures make for particularly happy reading this month as the numbers on the live register have dipped to just 10.1% of the labour force, the lowest seen since early 2009.
The recession has had a bitter effect on Irish jobs, with the rate of unemployment in recent years consistently high despite mass emigration over the same period
At its worst, unemployment stood at 15.1% in February 2012 although the live register has been in steady decline ever since.
Analyst with Davy Stockbrokers Conall Mac Coille suggests that at its current rate of decline joblessness should fall to single digit percentage figures by April, and to 9% by the end of the year.
There are currently 356,000 people in the state in receipt of social welfare, down from the high of 449,000 in August 2011, while our most up-to-date live register figures are well below the Eurozone average of 11.2%
Of these, 216,000 are male and 140,000 are female. The number of claimants who have been doing so long term (i.e. for longer than a year) stands at 163,000.
The vast majority of claimants, 307,000 people, are over 25 years of age.
As might be expected government figures are especially pleased with the figures as the country moves deep into election mode.
Employment minister Ged Nash was in buoyant form, stating that he expects the rate of unemployment to drop below 10% long before the end of 2015.
“I am particularly heartened to see that more than 14,600 people have returned to work in January,” he said.
That’s a new beginning at the start of a new year, right across the country.
We are delivering what everyone in government wants to see – full employment by 2018.
The Tanaiste meanwhile spoke in similarly bullish terms:
“We will drive the figure below 10% in the coming months,” she said.
Unemployment is still far too high, however a single-figure rate will demonstrate the real progress being made in getting people back to work.
Opposition figures were naturally enough less enthused with Sinn Féin spokesperson on jobs Peadar Tóibín stating disparagingly that “casual work is now entrenched in the labour market”
The figures released today by the CSO show that one in five people signing on is in part time work.
Despite the slight fall in numbers on the live register 355,600 people are still signing on and 45% of those have been signing on for over a year.
Any fall in the live register is to be welcomed but if the government continues to bury its head in the sand on the type of employment being created they will fail to secure a recovery based on decent sustainable jobs.”
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And who pays the bill?
Half a story here on the journal
Tom Feely will pay in bitcoins
The €47k that the residents paid last year to Kildare Co Co in LPT would more than comfortably cover the cost of lighting and sewage…
With no street lights how will the kids ever know when it’s time to come in?
I heard the post was late in another estate today. Where’s the journal on that one? One would think someone in the journal lives in the above estate.
I think there’s a pothole being filled in Dingle today also.
Damn it. Dingle gets everything.
Electricity for kilcock…. The future is now…..! Them swans in the canal must be delighted…!
No it’s not a “piss take” …
Yes a lot of ppl have no street lights at all…. The difference with this estate is there are street lights – which have been switched off without notice – why should the next estate have lights and not this one??
It is a built up town not two houses on a five mile country road! It needs lights for various reasons!
There are many estates like this which did not make the news – as no one bothered to stand up and make it happen!!
I’m sure the rate payers of Kildare will be happy.
This has to be a piss-take.
I’s hopes that youse can still see the stars ..lol lol
At last, some light at the end of the tunnel!
Such a relief
Um, what about the sewage plant? The maintenance of the lighting? Who will be paying to ensure services are maintained for the people living there?
The residents in the form of their Local property tax….. Its just a shame that the sheeple of Ireland are not prepared to stand up for what is their LEGAL rights.. When big Phil announced the LPT he justified it by saying it paid for street lighting. Chambers Park residents paid €47k last year in LPT, this would power the sewage system and pay for street lights for 3 YEARS.
You misunderstand, Pa. I was asking which body would be responsible, the local authority? The article never even touched on such questions.
As far as I can see, and your figures back it up, estate dwellers pay far more in LPT than they draw down.
Yet another reason that ghost estates should be treated more equitably.
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