Figures show more people are working now than since boom

EMPLOYMENT overall is up by 50,000 jobs, or 2.4%, for the second quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest CSO figures released yesterday.

Employment is now at its highest level since 2008, and unemployment, which is down to 6.1%, is also at the lowest it has been in the past decade.

Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe yesterday welcomed the figures and said they point to strong employment growth and steady improvement in the Irish economy.

‘Conditions in the labour market remain solid. In the second quarter, fulltime employment rose by 77,800 (5%) relative to the same period last year. We have now seen 19 consecutive quarters of employment growth, with the result that the level of employment is now at its highest since 2008.

‘In parallel, unemployment continues to decline, with the unemployment reaching 6.1% in August. Our job is to build upon these improvements and the Government will continue to put in place the framework conditions for continued employment growth to further stabilise the economy.’

Chambers Ireland also welcomed the news, but Director of Policy and Communications Sarah Freeman said the Government needs to do more to keep the recovery on track with Brexit looming.

Ms Freeman said: ‘These figures are a further positive sign and with unemployment decreasing, it is crucial that Government continues to build on the economic recovery and reallocates some of the funding currently vested in job creation schemes towards adult education and up-skilling within the workplace.’

Employers group Ibec said the upcoming budget must do more to remove the remaining barriers to work.

Economist Alison Wrynn said: ‘Despite some improvements in recent years, childcare costs in Ireland remain amongst the highest in Europe.’