New ways of creating employment must be found

It is good to learn Pfizer will invest €100m upgrading some of its plants in Ireland.

It is interesting and informative however to look at the employment profile planned for the investment. About 200 construction jobs will be created for possibly two years?

Two decades ago such construction might have needed 2,000 jobs for five years, but then building methods have greatly improved. There is no mention whatsoever of any additional jobs in production when the plant is completed, despite predicted output in excess of double what is possible today.

This is the reality of the 21st century. To have any hope of survival multinationals must construct plants which greatly increase output and reduce labour.

Yet governments and economists appear locked in a make-believe world that employment can be created in the same manner as centuries past.

Despite gross oversubscription, the drug market is finite. The same applies to practically every type of product and service. As automation reduces employment, administrations must devise different policies for distribution of the vast wealth automated commerce can provide.

Since employment is the only dignified method of such distribution new ways of job creation must be found. More jobs from less work; shorter hours, longer holidays and earlier retirement. Otherwise society itself will crumble like the old laws of economic philosophy already have.

Padraic Neary

Tubbercurry

Co Sligo