Hanafin says job losses higher than official figures show

SOCIAL Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin has said that unemployment levels are even higher than the record rises in Central Statistics Office figures suggest.

This is because some highly qualified professionals are not featuring despite losing their jobs.

Ms Hanafin said social welfare officials and the Money Advice and Budgetary Service (MABS) have reported dramatic changes in the profile of people seeking help. But in many cases these do not appear on the live register because they opt to live off savings or do not qualify as they were self-employed.