Just 1.7m people at work as jobless levels increase

The number of people at work in Ireland has fallen to its lowest level since 2003, with just 1.7m people working at the end of March.

The latest jobs figures by the CSO show that 18,100 fewer people have jobs now compared to a year ago.

The Quarterly National Household Survey reveals that employment levels fell by 1% over the period, with the biggest decreases recorded among those aged 20-34. At the same time, the unemployment rate has continued to increase, albeit at a slower rate than last year.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate now stands at 14.8% — up 0.3% since the end of 2011. The total number of people classified as unemployed is 309,000, with a male-female ratio of approximately 2:1.

However, the latest increase is largely attributed to a strong rise in the number of women out of work.

The long-term unemployment rate, which measures the number of people without a job for 12 months or more, increased by 8.9% during the year, to 60%.

Three out of five people on the dole are now classified as long-term unemployed.

The number of people out of work increased by 13,300 or 4.5% over the past 12 months, the report says.

Isme, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, described the unemployment situation as disastrous.

Mark Fielding, the group’s chief executive, said: “The continuous increase in unemployment and, in particular, the long-term unemployed, clearly demonstrates that the Government’s job strategy is not working.

“Much more action is required on the jobs crisis to arrest the savage loss of jobs.”

The figures show employment fell in nine out of 14 economic sectors over the past year, with the biggest rate of decline recorded in the sector governing professions, science, and technical activities, which lost 7,400 jobs or 7.2 % of the total.

The number of people working in the public sector fell by 21,900, or 5.4%, over the period, bringing the total number of people remaining in the public sector to 385,300.

In contrast, employment in the food and accommodation sector rose by 8.5%, or 8,700.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed said it was absolutely critical that several government initiatives, including the National Employment and Entitlement Service and Solas, the further education and training body, are used to meet the needs of unemployed people.

“Ultimately, a more flexible and progressive social welfare system could be the most usual form of activation,” spokeswoman Bríd O’Brien said.

Fianna Fáil jobs spokesman Willie O’Dea said the Government’s various job initiatives were failing to kickstart the domestic economy. He also criticised the VAT increase and the failure of banks to lend money to small businesses.