JobBridge and similar schemes used by a third of foreign investment firms

More than a third of companies operating in the foreign direct investment sector have used government employment schemes such as JobBridge to hire staff.

The CPL Employment Market Monitor suggests these schemes are becoming increasingly important to firms who use them to expand their workforce, according to CPL Resources director, Peter Cosgrove.

JobBridge offers employees €50 on top of their social welfare payment, while JobsPlus rewards employers with grants of up to €10,000 for hiring long-term unemployed workers. Mr Cosgrove said they are important routes into employment for older jobseekers.

The survey of more than 1,150 jobseekers and 400 employers found that 70% of the latter would hire a 20-something over other age-groups for a job which required three to five years of experience.

“Ageism is a prevailing obstacle for more mature jobseekers” said Mr Cosgrove. “This is why government schemes are so crucial, because they offer valuable training and experience to candidates,.

“One third of employers in our survey have embraced government initiatives such as JobBridge or JobsPlus. Despite some jobseekers’ negativity, our report shows they are becoming a vital part of enabling businesses to expand while providing valuable retraining for candidates from sectors which are diminishing or falling away.”

More than half of the companies surveyed are planning to expand their operations over the next 12 months, while 80% expect to hire additional staff.

Despite a drop-off in the number of job-listings in the third quarter, the numbers employed by foreign direct investment firms increased for the 11th consecutive quarter.

“Overall, Ireland’s employment market continues on its upward trajectory within the high-value, highly skilled sectors,” said Mr Cosgrove.