Broad-based jobs growth positive but road is long

Labour market figures, published by the CSO last week, for the first quarter of 2015 contained more good news on the Irish economy. The data show that Ireland is seeing strong, broad-based job growth, with sharply falling unemployment, writes Oliver Mangan.

Employment rose by 12,500, or 0.6% in quarter one, following increases of 13,000, or 0.7% in the fourth quarter and 12,000 (+0.6%) in the third quarter of last year.

Thus, employment is rising at a strong but steady pace. On a year-on-year basis, employment was up by over 41,000, or 2.2%.