Young males and migrants worst hit by job losses

YOUNG males and migrant workers are being worst hit by the jobs crisis, with those in financial services maintaining employment despite the collapse of that industry.

Although unemployment is affecting all sectors of society, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey for the first three months of 2009 shows that young men without third-level qualifications are continuing to lose their jobs at a much faster rate than others.

There were 222,800 people unemployed in the first quarter of 2009, an increase of 113,400 in the year. Male unemployment increased by 85,300, with the number of unemployed females increasing 28,200.