25% Of Irish Households Remain Jobless

Ireland has a high level of households where no-one is working or has very limited access to work, according to a report by the National Economic & Social Council (NESC).

Nearly a quarter of households in Ireland can be described as jobless compared to a European average of 11%. A distinguishing feature of Ireland's jobless households is the likelihood that they contain children, with children making up almost a third of those in jobless households. These households have a high risk of poverty, with the danger of transmitting joblessness and poverty across generations.

Jobless households comprise a mix of circumstances: people who are unemployed, who are working in the home, who are ill or disabled, and students. The risk of being in a jobless household is related to the employability of those in the household and the household's structure. Those who live in jobless households are more likely to have no educational qualifications, to have never worked or to be in the unskilled social class. They are also more likely to be renting their accommodation, to be single or parenting alone, and to either have a disability or to live with someone with a disability.

"The reasons for household joblessness are complex but are related to three main factors," said Helen Johnston, the report's author. "The first factor is the interaction between the tax and social welfare system and the transition from welfare to work. The second factor is related to the availability of jobs and whether the skills of those in jobless households match the requirements of the job.

"The third, and often overlooked, factor is the specific characteristics of the jobless household, such as the age, level of education and skills, and the health of the adults in the household, as well as the age and number of children."

(CD/JP)