Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has warned that there is no room for complacency over the jobs crisis, as the latest CSO figures show a decrease in the numbers signing on the Live Register.
Deputy Calleary commented, “There continues to be over 400,000 people signing on and a further 76,000 people on activation schemes. That’s an increase of over 2,500 on last year. A significant proportion of the drop in the numbers signing on is down to the increase in job-seekers leaving the Live Register to engage in activation schemes.
“In addition to this, there are the thousands of people that have been forced to emigrate for work and the thousands more who have gone back to education to improve their chances of employment.
“The latest Quarterly National Household survey revealed a worrying level of underemployment. The numbers in full-time work fell last quarter, while the increase in employment was down to an increase in those working in part-time jobs. In many cases these employees want to work more hours but cannot get them.
“The underlying position is improving slowly, but the detail of the figures shows that the jobs crisis continues to be a reality for hundreds of thousands of people across the country.”
