ICTU Concerned About Long-Term And Youth Unemplyment

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that although the fall in jobless numbers is welcome, it cannot disguise continued high levels of long-term and youth unemployment.

Congress Assistant General Secretary, Sally Anne Kinahan said: "It is good news that we have seen an increase in the numbers of work as there can be no recovery without job creation.

"But we need to be clear that much of the current reduction stems from an increase in self-employment and part time work, which people often turn to when full time work is unavailable.

"In addition, the figures for youth and the long-term unemployed are chronic, with youth unemployment at almost 27% and the long-term jobless figure close to 62% of the total numbers out of work.

"That represents policy failure on a huge scale and sees one segment of society becoming entirely detached from the workforce and another left with few options except emigration. Indeed, it is probable the fall in the labour force is almost entirely due to outward migration," Kinahan said.

SIPTU economist, Marie Sherlock, said: "On a seasonally adjusted basis, there were 7,700 more jobs in the economy in the January-March period than in the previous three months. In the year to the end of March, employment increased by 20,500 or 1.1%."

(CD/IT)