500 industrial jobs lost a month

MORE than 500 manufacturing jobs were lost every month over the last year.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures released yesterday revealed industrial employment stood at 237,400 in June of this year, down by over 6,000 from the same time a year ago.

Industrial workers consist of operatives, maintenance workers, storekeepers, packers, cleaners, basic supervisory staff and apprentices. Around 20,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in this country since 1999.

A spokesman from employers’ group, IBEC, said that these results were not surprising considering the overall output in the manufacturing sector was down around 3% compared with the same time last year.

“The major declines are in the food and drink sectors and the publishing and printing sectors. The chemical sector also suffered with the loss of 900 jobs. This, however, reflects a period of overall decline in output,” he said.

“On a more optimistic note, employment in modern sectors like electrical manufacturing has begun to pick up,” he added.

Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman Phil Hogan said: “This disturbing trend confirms that the rising cost of doing business is driving jobs out of Ireland, and manufacturing costs have continued to increase dramatically throughout 2005.”

He went on to say that Ireland’s cost base was now totally out of line with its trading partners, posing a serious risk to the manufacturing sector.

The CSO figures revealed big job losses in the hi-tech and chemical sectors since 2001, including 13,600 jobs lost in optical and electrical equipment and 500 jobs lost in chemicals, chemical products and man-made fibres.

Mr Hogan added: “Outsourcing and the loss of jobs to cheaper overseas economies has to be addressed. Fine Gael is calling on the Government to implement a series of key measures to reverse the damage being done.”

The CSO said that average hours worked rose by 0.2%.

The average weekly earnings of industrial workers increased by 2.7% in June of this year to 577.21, compared to the same time last year when the average weekly earnings stood at 562.21.

Fine Gael is now calling on the Government to implement a series of key measures to reverse the trend.

They want to see all legislation business-proofed before it is passed into law and they also said that there needs to be a single regulator to control costs and to open up sheltered sections of the economy.

The party also wants to ensure there is adequate access to broadband across the country and greater support for indigenous industry.

“Enterprise Ireland’s recent decision to invest substantially in SWS in West Cork is a very welcome move. However, the Government must take action to limit its own role in driving up the cost of manufacturing in Ireland,” Mr Hogan said.