Employment and Unemployment in Ireland

Over the last several years, Ireland has experienced a dramatic change in employment. A quick study of the latest CSO “Employment and Unemployment” survey shows where jobs have been lost and gained, by sector of employment. Some sectors have seen job losses in the hundreds of thousands while other sectors have been slowly growing. The period from April 2007 to April 2013, there has been a loss of 266,000 jobs (CSO, 2013). The study suggests that the loss of jobs was greatest in the Construction and Industry sectors. While gains occurred in the Education, Information and Communications, and Human Health and Social Work sectors. These changes show that the tasks associated with low, skill and education are on the decline. The jobs that need a higher education level are on the rise (National Skills Bulletin, 2013, 28). Due to this trend, subsidies in the Education sector should be increased to train and better equip the workforce. It would be of a great benefit to the entire economy, as an increase in education may attract more business to Ireland. It would also make the workforce more adaptable to change, giving people stability in their lives.

Government subsidisation in Ireland appears to cover every sector from small farms to large multinational companies. The government subsidises in many forms, such as tax relief, single payments, grants, ect. These subsidies helped attract large multinational companies, maintained profitability for farmers and provided capital for start-up companies. However, tax relief and grants are not enough. Every year businesses are finding it harder to fill specialised roles within their companies. Virtually all the skill shortages listed in the National Skills Bulletin 2013 are specialised and only ob...

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...ta from the National Skills Bulletin 2013, and the CSO “Employment and Unemployment” survey, change can be clearly seen. Only jobs and careers that need a third level education are on the rise. No longer applicable to the Irish workforce “Don’t forget your shovel if you want to go to work” (Christy Moore, 1987). The vast change in the Irish labour markets over the last decade has broken up the Irish workforce. Many have adapted however, there is many people are falling behind. Deemed uneducated, unskilled and unsuitable for the workforce. Becoming unemployed due to changes beyond their control. Ireland subsidises many businesses. However, it not enough, with skill shortages in many areas, preventing companies from investing in Ireland. Retraining and re-educating the workforce by increasing subsidies to the Education sector will have benefits throughout the economy.