State-aided jobs fall for third year in row

THE number of jobs in companies supported by Government agencies has fallen for the third consecutive year, according to the latest report by Forfás.

The agency said that although the total number of people at work in Ireland rose by 26,000 to 1.82 million in 2003, the level of employment in companies which are supported by agencies such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland fell by 7,500 to 297,000, the third straight year of decline.

A breakdown of the individual sectors of the economy shows that manufacturing industry continues to be the hardest hit, with 21,500 jobs lost, compared to the 14,000 created. The computer and electronics sector accounted for almost half of the net decrease in this area.