More training ‘needed’ for jobless

The Government has been called on to increase the number of so-called ‘activation schemes’ in a bid to tackle long-term and youth unemployment.

Latest live register data, published yesterday by the CSO, shows a seasonally adjusted figure of 70,068 people availing of such state-funded programmes — aimed at helping people out of work for more than a year to upskill and find a job — as of the end of June.

That figure is up by nearly 4% on the same point last year.

While those partaking in such schemes are not counted on the live register, yesterday’s CSO figures show only a marginal drop of 0.6% — or 2,100 people — signing on for unemployment benefit in July; bringing the total to 343,100. Of that, it is estimated that over 45% are long-term claimants.

The figures follow on from data earlier this week showing that while the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.7% in July, the month saw a rise of 300 people unemployed, marking the first increase in unemployment since the start of last year.

“The issues of long-term and youth unemployment are of particular significance as both these groups run the risk of becoming highly unemployable, due to a lack of recent relevant job experience.

"Government activation schemes must be increased to tackle the rising numbers of people in these categories,” said Mark Fielding of business lobby group, Isme, which is calling for a complete overhaul of the social welfare system and for a welfare officer to be assigned to every long-term unemployed person to ensure they are offered a place on an activation scheme which they can’t refuse.

“Government has expected business to continue creating employment despite the serious obstacles being placed in their way. The impending minimum wage increase, in particular, is stopping SMEs from expanding their workforce.

Jobs will not be created while SMEs are expecting cost increases, through minimum wage, sick pay, paternity and parental leave,” argued Mr Fielding.

“The Government must help create a positive environment in which to create jobs. This will not be achieved while government politicians, scared of losing their seats, continue to pile on costs on SMEs in an effort to buy the election,” he said.

The latest live register shows that while down in all months since July 2010, the percentage of persons under the age of 25 filing for unemployment benefit is still nearly 14%.

Earlier this week, Davy Stockbrokers suggested that continued downward movement on the unemployment rate is likely despite its stalled improvement of late.