IBEC: 'Acute need for more labour-market supports'

Business lobby group IBEC said the latest employment figures showing an 8.2% drop in the numbers at work "emphasise the acute need for further labour market supports".

The number of unemployed people was up 108% to 264,600 in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the figures from the Central Statistics Office.

IBEC economist Reetta Suonpera said: "Three sectors - construction, wholesale and retail - and industry, account for over 80% of jobs lost over the year.

"Manufacturing, with the exception of one or two sectors, is also suffering severely from a combination of the global economic crisis and Ireland’s lost competitiveness."

Ms Suonpera called for more investment in addition to the €250m package announced over the summer.

"The need for further labour market supports is now acute. We must in the first instance prevent job losses to the greatest extent possible. The scale of the €250m package...is inadequate.

"The second priority must be to provide training supports for those who have lost their jobs, to help them find alternative employment once the economy recovers."