Precarious employment ‘hurts family wellbeing’

Ireland’s long-term unemployment crisis and the rise of precarious employment is damaging the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, Social Justice Ireland (SJI) has claimed.

Mon, 27 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Evelyn Ring

Employment had fallen by 10% since 2007 but this figure masks a bigger decline in full-time employment by 15% and a 14% growth in part-time employment, according to SJI director Fr Sean Healy.

Among those workers employed part-time, there has also been an increase in the numbers of people who are underemployed, which means working part-time but receiving fewer hours than individuals are willing to work. By the end of 2014, 115,500 people were under-employed — more than one-quarter of all part-time workers.

Social Justice Ireland’s policy document — Work, Jobs and Unemployment — which is released today, describes the work situation as a major labour market challenge.

As well as impacting negatively on the wellbeing of individuals and their families, the employment situation was having a detrimental affect on people’s financial situation and creating more working-poor challenges.

Proposals to address the situation include investing in social infrastructure and resourcing training.