Survey raises new Irish job worries

IRELAND'S high cost base has put the country in the firing line to lose jobs to eastern Europe, according to a major annual survey released yesterday.

The World Competitiveness Yearbook, which is published by the prestigious IMD business school in the Swiss city of Lausanne, warned Ireland would lose out in the race to attract foreign investment.

IMD project director Stephane Grail said average labour costs in Ireland could not compete with those in countries that joined the EU last weekend.