Jobs crisis: 50 people for every vacancy

Finding a job in Ireland is more difficult than in almost any other eurozone country, with an estimated 50 people for every vacancy.

Fewer people found jobs — including those who changed jobs or came off the dole — from April to June last year than during the corresponding three months in 2010. However, the ratio of jobs to those seeking work improved, possibly because of immigration.

The prognosis is not good, with Ireland named as one of five countries where the work situation was expected to worsen.

The figures are from the European Commission’s initiative designed to monitor the demand for labour rather than just unemployment. It hopes this will offer a new perspective to help policymakers on labour, education and training issues.

Figures showed the number of vacancies in Ireland from April to June last year was about 6,000, and the number of unemployed was about 300,000.

Across Europe, new jobs in the construction industry have more or less disappeared, while austerity measures have killed off any in the public sector.

There is also a skills mismatch, as there are a sizeable number of vacancies for professionals and managers but most people looking for work have low skills.

The report also shows there has been an explosion in youth unemployment, accounting for 25% of the total on average in the EU, and half in some countries such as Spain.

While employers and the economy are depending on young people to come with hi-tech skills, the jobs they are offering are short-term, temporary and poorly paid.

Meanwhile, the European Commission is setting up action teams in the countries with the highest youth unemployment levels, including Ireland.

The idea is to develop a plan by mid-April to be included in the national reform programmes in which each member state outlines its economic policy priorities in the context of the European semester budget preparations.

Commission president José Manuel Barroso has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny announcing a commission visit in February to identify the main elements of a youth employment plan and support schemes for SMEs, which could be accelerated or benefit from funding from the country’s allocation under the structural funds.

The proposal is that the Taoiseach would set up an action team led by someone from his own office and include people relevant to co-operating with the EU on the project.

The commission will set up a similar team with people dealing in much the same areas, including education and employment, and the two will work together.

However, Ireland has spent 99.4% of the €906m allocation from the EU, leaving just €4m to be spent over the next two years.