INOU concerned about increase in long-term unemployment

The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed has expressed concern about an increase in long-term unemployment announced by the Central Statistics Office today.

The CSO said the number of people unemployed decreased by around 300 during the year, but this masked an increase of around 2,700 in the numbers of long-term unemployed, particularly among those in the 15-24 age bracket.

The INOU said it was concerned that people may have abandoned their education due to the attraction of well-paid jobs during the Celtic Tiger and were now suffering the consequences.

Spokesman Eric Conroy said: "There's a clear correlation between the lack of education and unemployment and especially long-term unemployment."