Number on the dole doubles in a year
In the year to April 2009, the numbers on the Live Register of social welfare claimants rose from 195,598 to 384,448 — an increase of 96.6%.
In the month from March to April alone, the number rose by 15,800 of which 9,300 were male.
Reaction to the latest figures was mixed.
ISME described the figures as “atrocious” and demanded the Government introduce an Employment Action Plan to address the unemployment “predicament”.
“The problems will continue to magnify if immediate policies are not introduced to stem the tide of job losses,” said ISME chief executive Mark Fielding.
However, economists found reasons to be optimistic.
Rossa White of Davy Stockbrokers pointed out that the rate of dole claimants, while still very high, was slowing.
“We suggested last month that the first quarter was when we would see the most vicious pace of layoffs (fuelled by heavy losses in construction and retail),” he said. “That is being borne out. In fact, it seems increasingly likely that January 2009 was the peak month.
“In April, claimants increased by only 15,800, or 4.2%. Both in absolute and percent terms, this was the smallest monthly rise since September of last year. It compares with a 33,000 jump in January, 26,700 in February and 20,000 in March.”
Lyndsey Clemenger of Ulster Bank said: “While the numbers claiming unemployment benefit rose by a substantial 15,800 from March, this represents an improvement on the average rise of almost 27,000 in the first quarter of the year.”
However, she pointed out that if the monthly rise in April continued for the rest of the year, the number of unemployment claimants would reach 515,000 by the end of 2009, giving a 14% unemployment rate.
Alan McQuaid of Bloxhams said public servants should count themselves lucky.
“The vast majority of them at least have the security of guaranteed employment... the way things are going they will be the only ones left working.”
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