Government failing spectacularly on jobs promise – Calleary

Published on: 19 September 2012


Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has said the CSO’s latest Quarterly National Household Survey is further evidence that the government is failing spectacularly on its promise to tackle unemployment.

The survey reveals a significant increase in long-term unemployment over the past two years, with nearly 60% of those out of work now long-term unemployed. That compares to 43% two years ago.  Overall, unemployment has increased by 1.3% in the first half of this year.  Employment has fallen by 33,400 since this time last year.

“These figures are a stark reminder of the ever growing jobs crisis in this country. They confirm once again that this government’s half-hearted approach to addressing the crisis is simply not working,” said Deputy Calleary.

“Over the past 18 months Ministers have trotted out the line that job creation is their top priority.  Jobs initiatives have been launched and re-launched with great fanfare, lofty targets have been set, but none of it has made the slightest dent in the spiralling unemployment rate in this country.

“What is most worrying is the continued surge in long-term unemployment since this government took up office. We know from bitter experience that the longer someone is on the live register the harder it is for them to get to work. Last December, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny promised to help those in long-term unemployed during his term in office.  He said, “I hope that by the end of this Government’s period that anybody who’s currently on long-term unemployment will be off long-term unemployment and will either be back in the world of work, or will have involved themselves in up-skilling or changes of direction in terms of courses or whatever.” Since then, another 4,000 people have fallen into long-term unemployment.  They are wondering what has happened to this promise?

“It is quite clear that none of the government’s media-oriented ‘strategies’ are working.  People are sick of all the talk and spin, they want to see some real action to help people get back to work.”

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