ISME: Prioritise indigenous industry now

ISME has called on the Government to prioritise the Manufacturing sector after unemployment figures revealed that the sector has been badly hit by job losses.

The business organisation voiced its concerns after data today revealed that unemployment rose from 4.6% to 4.9%, according to the Central Statistics Office.

ISME is particularly concerned at the number of jobs lost in indigenous industry.

While employment grew in most sectors, 9,600 jobs were shed in what is termed 'other production industries.'

Numbers employed in the category 'Plant and Machinery operatives' showed a significant decrease of 17,400 to September this year.

Rising costs, increased competition from Eastern Europe and the Far East and currency fluctuations have been highlighted as contributory factors to manufacturing's decline.

According to ISME's chief executive, Mark Fielding: "To date the erosion within the traditional sectors has gone unnoticed at official level, masked as it is by the Government's over attention and over reliance on the Multinationals.

"It is obvious, based on today's figures, that the indigenous manufacturing sector is facing a stark future unless remedial action is taken at Government level," he added.

Earlier this year, the Irish Exporter's Association successfully called for the CSO to compile export figures independent of multinational exports.

This, the IEA claimed would present a clearer picture of how Irish exporters were performing.

ISME has called for the Enterprise Strategy Group to prioritise the plight of the manufacturing sector by examining the requirements of indigenous industry and implementing initiatives already forwarded by the Association.