Latest figures show 10.4% unemployed

Brian Cowen told the Dáil this morning that more than 354,000 people were on the Live Register in February, up from around 326,000 in January.

The increase pushes the standardised unemployment rate up to 10.4%, compared to 7.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyaukfmhkfcw/

Unemployment up by 70%

THE number of people unemployed leapt by almost 70pc at the end of last year, prompting calls for urgent action to stop the haemorrhaging of jobs.

The number of people out of work rose by almost 70,000 to 170,600 in the final quarter of 2008 with men bearing the brunt of the job losses by a factor of nearly four to one as construction work dried up, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

The number of people working nationwide fell by 4pc, or almost 87,000, since the end of 2007 -- the largest decrease seen since the CSO first started its labour force survey in 1975.

The number of people working in Ireland is still over two million, but the unemployment rate has risen to 7.7pc and is now higher than the EU average.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/calls-for-urgent-intervention-as-unemployment-jumps-by-70pc-1656959.html

Unemployment rate up to 7.7% at end of 2008

Ireland's official unemployment rate increased to 7.7% at the end of last year, according to the CSO's latest Quarterly National Household Survey.

The statistics agency says more than 170,000 people were unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2008, an increase of almost 70% during the year.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyauaugbojsn/

Immigrants not factored into job loss estimates

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen's prediction last Wednesday that unemployment could hit 400,000 by the end of this year came despite the Government making no provision for Irish and non-Irish nationals who may leave or enter the country as a result of the global downturn, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Given the failure by government officials to factor in any estimates on the expected outflow of workers who lose their jobs during 2009, Mr Cowen's grim forecast could yet turn out to be hopelessly optimistic to the tune of tens of thousands.

For in the case of non-Irish nationals from Eastern Europe, being unemployed in Ireland could still present a more attractive option than a return to one's home country.

The weekly entitlement to jobseeker's benefit stands at over €200 per week here and matches -- and in some cases outstrips -- professional salaries in EU accession countries such as Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/immigrants-not-factored-into-job-loss-estimates-1632513.html

Unemployment up 71% in 12 months

The Live Register saw an unadjusted increase of 120,987 or 71% in the year to December 2008 - the biggest 12-month increase since records began in 1967.

It compares to an unadjusted increase of 106,864 or 66.1% in the year to November.

Economists expect the unemployment figures to deteriorate significantly in 2009 with the state training agency FÁS predicting that the rate of unemployment will exceed 12% over the course of the year.

ISME described the situation as catastrophic and said that the Government has utterly failed to indicate how it is going to address the problems of small and medium businesses.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0109/employment.html

Dell invites existing 500 Polish staff to seek jobs in Lodz

DELL IS expanding its Polish operation in the wake of the Limerick job losses and has encouraged its 500 Polish employees in Ireland to apply for the new jobs.

"A lot of Polish people work for Dell in Ireland and they can apply for all open positions in Poland," said Rafal Branowski, Dell spokesman in Poland. "It's more about Polish people working in Ireland - for them it might be an interesting opportunity."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0109/1231406004614.html

70,000 retail jobs face axe in 2009

The economic crisis will significantly worsen in the New Year, with a shocking 70,000 jobs now expected to be lost in the beleaguered retail sector alone.

Retail forms a huge part of the economy with almost 30,000 wholesale and retail businesses in the country.

The sector employs around 200,000 people -- over 9 per cent of all jobs -- and accounts for close to a quarter of consumer spending.

In the New Year, it is widely anticipated that a third of such businesses will close, an unprecedented development which will lead to up to 70,000 job losses.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/70000-retail-jobs-face-axe-in-new-year-1586826.html

120,000 more jobs will go, warns ESRI

The Irish economy will shed almost 120,000 jobs in 2009 and 50,000 people will emigrate, an economic forecast warned yesterday.

The ESRI also believes the Government will be hard-pressed to pay the 3.5pc wage rise due in September under the national pay agreement.

In a Quarterly Economic Commentary, it said GNP will shrink by 4.6pc next year on top of an anticipated 2.6pc contraction for 2008.

"We now expect that average employment will fall by 117,000 in 2009," said the report.

"A fall in employment of that size will be consistent with net outward migration of 50,000, with the unemployment rate averaging 9.4pc."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/120000-more-jobs-will-go-warns-esri-1580693.html

Redundancies on the cards for 20pc of firms

A FIFTH of companies said they are likely to make people redundant in the next year, according to a new survey.

And competition for jobs is heating up as more than half of employers have said there has been a huge increase in the amount of CVs being sent to them in the first six months of the year.

The current climate will make it especially difficult for new graduates to find jobs, according to recruitment agency urHired and market research company Focus One.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/redundancies-on-the-cards-for--20pc-of-firms-1476808.html

Budget pushed forward to october

The Government today decided to rush forward the Budget by almost two months to October 14 in light of the rapidly deteriorating economic situation.

With job losses, rising prices and falling tax revenue, figures released today showed unemployment has jumped to 6.1% - a 10-year high.

The Government, which today held its first Cabinet meeting since the August break, said moving the Budget from the first week in December will give clarity and confidence to investors and taxpayers and lay the foundations for a recovery.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlgbkfgbey/

Quarter of building workers to lose jobs

A QUARTER of all construction workers will lose their jobs by the end of next year, a confidential new report reveals.

Massive job losses in the country's largest industry will send unemployment soaring and leave tens of thousands of young men on the dole.

A total of 65,400 of the 279,000 currently employed in construction will be forced out of work as the economic downturn worsens and the value of new property plummets.

The report, carried out by the employment and training authority FAS into construction and contracting, is one of the gloomiest job forecasts produced to date.

Obtained by the Irish Independent, it shows those set to lose their jobs include:

35,800 craft workers such as bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers.

9,000 non-craft skilled workers (scaffolders, roofers etc).

10,600 general workers.

2,100 professionals (archi-tects, quantity surveyors etc).

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/quarter-of-building-workers-to-lose-jobs-1396164.html

2,700 jobs cut due to HSE recruitment freeze

Almost 2,700 jobs have reportedly been cut from the health service as a result of the HSE's controversial recruitment freeze.
Reports this morning say figures supplied to the HSE show that just over 110,000 people were employed in the health service in March.
This compares to almost 113,000 last August, just before the recruitment freeze was put in place in an effort to rein in a €200m budget overrun.
Health unions say the cutbacks are already having a significant impact on services and patient care.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/2700-jobs-cut-due-to-hse-recruitment-freeze-1373000.html