More than 18,000 people jobless for over five years

MORE than 18,000 people have been unemployed for over five years, according to Government figures.

The figures have doubled since 2003, and come amid concerns that very long-term unemployment is again becoming “entrenched”.

In all, as of last month, 18,663 people had been claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance for more than five years. Of that figure, 14,165 had been claiming the payment for between five and 10 years. Another 3,980 had been claiming it for between 10 and 20 years. The remaining 518 had been claiming it for more than 20 years.

The 18,663 total is twice the 9,286 who had been five or more years claiming the payment in 2003.

The figures were supplied by the Department of Social Protection to Fine Gael TD John Deasy.

Long-term unemployment is classified as a year or more out of the labour market. Five years is regarded as very long-term unemployment.

The figures indicate that an increasing amount of people are moving from long-term to very long-term unemployment – a problem likely to worsen while the economic crisis continues.

John Stewart of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed said that, without “very significant” interventions, the country would see a situation where both long-term and very-long term unemployment would become entrenched.

He said there were many reasons why people were unemployed for long periods, ranging from literacy problems to employer prejudices. But he also said the Government had been “short-sighted” to a degree in its approach to the issue, pointing, for example, to the decision to discontinue the Job Initiative Programme. This scheme provided work experience and development opportunities for people who were aged 35 or over and had been unemployed for five years or more. Recruitment to the scheme stopped in 2004.

However, the department pointed to a range of ways in which it seeks to help people return to work.

“The department offers one-to-one assistance through its facilitation service which operates at a local level nationwide in conjunction with Fás and other agencies. Facilitators help jobseekers develop individual progression plans to enhance their skills and ultimately improve their employment chances,” it said.

It said a number of related schemes are being transferred from other departments and agencies into Social Protection.