INOU says high unemployment rate set to continue

The outlook for the jobs market in 2004 is uncertain, according to the National Organisation of the Unemployed.

The INOU says the predicted unemployment rate of 5.2% contained in the Quarterly National Household Survey is likely to continue.

Last year recorded the highest number of redundancies in 19 years although December's Live Register figures fell slightly.

General Secretary of the INOU, Eric Conroy, says Ireland's competitiveness is extremely vulnerable, with jobs going to places like the US and Asia.