FÁS processes 132,000 job openings in 2005

FÁS is Ireland’s leading job agency. In 2005, it processed 132,000 job openings, leaving the top private sector agencies a distant second in terms of volume.

Most big specialist private agencies place about 1,000 people in permanent jobs each year, according to one source. Industry experts regard CPL as Ireland's leading recruitment company in terms of volume.

CPL chief executive Anne Heraty said: "Each year, we place about 5,000 or 6,000 people in permanent positions, and up to 17,000 people in temporary positions."

Of the 132,000 jobs posted on the FÁS.ie website last year, 90,000 were permanent jobs, 42,000 were part-time. About 80% of all roles are filled within six months, some by FÁS, others by private agencies.

However, a number of agencies questioned the quality of the jobs being advertised by FÁS.

"Naturally, the private agencies don't handle as many low-skilled jobs because there's no money in it. Most of the agencies specialise in one particular end of the market. They don't deal with the same volumes. We deal with the full spectrum of jobs,." said Margaret Toale, manager of FÁS's national contact centre.

Meanwhile, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin and FÁS director general Rody Molloy highlighted the fact that the state is moving its main focus away from low-skilled and onto knowledge-intensive employment at the at the official launch of FÁS's Jobs Ireland service, which is tying together its various recruitment services touch-screen kiosks, freephone and online.