The Dropping Unemployment Rate
There was good news this week as the latest monthly employment figures were released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). These numbers showed that the unemployment level in Ireland has fallen to 6%. The number of individuals classified as unemployed dropped by 1800 in October bringing us the lowest figure in 9 years and the first time that unemployment has hit a level equivalent to those before the financial crisis.
In further positive news, these new figures place Ireland in an incredibly favourable position in terms of unemployment in the Eurozone itself. The Eurozone average unemployment level is 8.9%, placing Ireland almost 3% under this average. As stated in the budget announcement, experts expect that this level will continue to fall in the coming months at a steady rate following current trends. It is believed that Ireland could reach what is known as full employment (an unemployment level of 5.5% or less) in 2018.
The employment figures also showed a drop in the youth unemployment level from 14.7 to 14%. Despite these positive moves however, there is always room for concern and businesses will have new concerns to be addressed in the wake of this record low in unemployment.
Mariano Mamertino, economist with Indeed, has stated that there are still major concerns and that the Irish public should not become complacent, likewise jobseekers should not assume that there are jobs aplenty available for them.
“Although the rate of youth unemployment was down to 14 per cent in October, from 16.7 per cent a year ago, young people in Ireland are still almost three times more likely than older people to be unemployed today, with 27,000 people under the age of 25 who want a job not yet finding a role […] nearly half of those who are unemployed are long-term unemployed, and therefore have been looking for a role for at least 12 months. It is unlikely that the sectors facing the most significant skills shortages such as technology, finance and biopharmaceuticals will be hiring from these two cohorts, and are more likely to look overseas for hires who have experience and are ready to hit the ground running.”
As such, although these are of course shifts in the right direction for the Irish economy, it is wise for employers and employees alike to never take figures such as these for granted. If recent years have taught us anything it’s that in the current economic climate, things can shift dramatically in a short period of time.
Should you require any help or guidance on any business or financial matter, please do not hesitate to contact us here at EcovisDCA where we are always delighted to welcome clients both old and new.
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~ DCA PARTNERS, DECLAN DOLAN & EAMONN GARVEY