The complications and myths surrounding unemployment and social welfare

A national debate without the myths associated with unemployment is needed as we start to rethink social welfare after the crisis, write Tom Boland and Ray Griffin

Perhaps the best-known statistic in Irish society is the unemployment rate, currently 9.4%. But unemployment itself is far more complicated, and is subject to at least 10 common myths that cloud matters, raise emotions, and prevent a rational discussion of the issue.

Myth 1: That 9.4% of people are unemployed.