Crystal job losses tip of iceberg, warns expert

Neans McSweeney, Dungarvan

Yesterday’s loss of 485 jobs at Waterford Crystal was just the tip of the iceberg, Friends First Chief Economist Jim Power said. Ireland’s future as a manufacturing hub was bleak.

“The traditional, indigenous industries have been in decline over the past few years and I see that continuing, with a loss of anything in the region of about 10,000 jobs per annum over the coming years,” Mr Power added.