17 Dec 2018

Unemployment in Ireland - The Real Truth

By Pamela DoyleDirector & Ideation Manager

As unemployment rates drop and employers struggle to recruit for specific roles across the Nation, we take a look at unemployment blackspots, industries impacted and employment schemes being implemented throughout the country.

So, we’ve come a long way from the 15% unemployment rate at the height of the recession in 2012 to a post-crash low of 5.1% recorded July ‘18. Not bad at all compared to our EU counterparts in Greece and Spain who are recording 19.0% and 15.3% unemployment rates respectively. As a matter of interest the lowest recorded rates in Europe at the moment are Czech Republic 2.2% and Germany 3.5%.

But while we’re improving well as a country, recovery brings its own problems for employers and statistics expose blackspots where families are still struggling to make the break from poverty and overcome barriers to employment.

The statistics

According to CSO figures available from the last full census, there were 79 unemployment blackspots across the country. A blackspot refers to an area with at least 200 people in the labour force where the unemployment rate is 27% or higher.

In Dublin, the worst affected areas included; Priorswood 36%, Tallaght 33%, Clondalkin 32% and Ballymun 32%. Outside Dublin some of the highest hitting unemployment blackspots were in Johns A Electoral District, Limerick; Deanscurragh, Longford; Larchville, Waterford; Cavan Urban District, The Glen, Cork and Clonleigh South, Donegal. (See the full list of Unemployment Blackspots by Electoral District below).

Meanwhile employers across the country are struggling to fill vacancies and they’re not all highly academic roles either. In a recent press article, Paul McGrath a horse breeder from Waterford expressed his concerns for the Horse Industry saying; “We do not need people with Degrees - we badly need those with common sense and who are willing to learn.” The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association are actively working on finding solutions for the industry and recently launched a new Apprenticeship scheme along with other incentives to attract particularly young people with an interest in Horses.

The booming Pharma Industry is also struggling to fill vacancies. It’s estimated that over 10,000 new jobs will be created by 2021. Free courses are on offer for unemployed people for Certificate courses in eBioPharmaChem and other similar areas through Springboard at the moment. These courses aim to upskill candidates who have transferable experience and it doesn’t have to be Pharma or Lab experience either. Work experience in manufacturing, maintenance, technical skills or engineering are highly desirable. There’s a “75% job success rate within 6 months” for participants completing these courses and you could receive 30% more than the national average salary.

Skills Shortages in Ireland

We’ve all seen the media coverage as the hospitality industry faces skills shortages too. Although Fáilte Ireland, The Restaurants Association of Ireland, Solas and Institutes of Technology across Ireland are working together to solve the problem by establishing new Chef De Partie Programmes and Culinary and Hospitality Courses to attract more trainees into the industry. They’re also trying to source chefs from across the pond.

Meanwhile, community programmes, Local Partnerships and Job Centres are expanding their services to provide short and long term unemployed people with access to training, support and placement opportunities. Funding is being provided to unemployment blackspots to address specific needs of local people, one of these centres, the Ballymun Job Centre in Dublin just launched their 4 year strategic plan. It will support jobseekers, particularly disadvantaged jobseekers to have access to sustainable labour market participation. One programme includes working with the local Drugs Task Force, designing and running courses for people in recovery from addiction who want to return to education and employment.

At JobAlert, we help employers fill jobs, but we are also passionate about working with community services across the country. We support them by sharing information on their programmes and initiatives through our massive audience – we now have over 230,000 followers nationwide. Filling jobs is one thing, but breaking down barriers to employment and getting the whole country back working again is a massive achievement and we are committed to ensuring that we play our part.