Unemployment

[mypost]

The latest unemployment figures are released from the live register today. After the massive jump last month, and it now standing at 5.5%, that figure is only going to increase again today to 200k+. Yet, you're still treated as a social pariah, if you're unemployed in this country.

People don't seem to recognise that getting and keeping a job at the moment is not the easy task it was 5 years ago. With jobs slashed in the construction and manufacturing sectors especially, people have to wake up and accept that once you have been laid off, it's difficult to find another job in the same industry now. And for those that can, salaries are not great, and often lower than previously, against growing inflation.

Only 24,000 new jobs will be created this year, and the effects can be seen on recruitment websites. Whereas last year, there would be 3 pages of new jobs posted daily by firms in specific fields, today, there's less than 2. And most of those advertised are from recruitment agencies themselves. In the national newspapers on Thursdays last year, there would be double figure pages advertising vacancies. Yesterday, there was a couple. And we still have to go through the annual summer slowdown, beginning next month.

When it last hit 200k, the country was a basket case. Why is it that when the same figures will be recorded today, people will still think we're doing fine??

[jebus]

I'm with Bohs So Good on this one though, it's all a con to make you buy more linen shopping bags, unemployment, sure they were worried about that in the 80s and we're not all dead yet arev we?? Proves it doesn't exist**


Sorry for taking my grievances from another thread over to this one. My real answer would be that the government are playing the media better this time, they've learned that if you throw enough 'facts' in the opposite direction of the social tide people will become confused and refuse to believe there is a problem. So at the moment some of us believe there is a crisis, some think we are being hysterical and the majority are stuck in the middle of what to believe

[John83]

The latest unemployment ... figure is only going to increase again today to 200k+...
When it last hit 200k, the country was a basket case. Why is it that when the same figures will be recorded today, people will still think we're doing fine??

That figure of 200,000, did this include housewives last time it was that high? Because our working population has soared, and 200,000 unemployed isn't what it used to be.

[Reality Bites]

The Slowdown is for the greater good, stupid ignorant chancers have made it big in the last 5 years - I'd be sweating now if I had two or three investment houses in the midlands, a Jeep and large five bed property all bought on cheap credit and a middle income job!

[Block G Raptor]

The Big Time Charlies aint going to look so big this time next year thats for sure. I was reluctant to get into the housing and/or investment markets (and lets face it I didn't have a lot of disposable income to allow me to anyway)and I'm relived that I didn't, also I work in an area that is less likely to be moved to eastern Europe or Asia as it involves being on the ground with customers

[TonyD]

Hi 5 on that! I for one am going to enjoy the oncoming years of depression and house repossession, the ignorant and the foolish have had their time in the sun this decade, when they all have to resort to prostitution to pay off their mortgages that's gonna be Jebus's time to shine

Fabulous reply to a very silly post. (Pesky unemplyed getting free money, and them all with their 5 bedroom houses and jeeps!)

[mypost]

Despite the figures falling by 200 last month, the % rate remains the same as last time at 5.5%. At 199.5k+, there is no question that the 200k mark will be reached if not next month, then certainly during the summer months.

[pete]

Off Topic junk moved to rubbish.

As said above 200k is not what it used to be as is much smaller percentage of total now. Unemployment does not affect individuals much until they are out of work.

I don't know much about other sectors of the economy except my own. Post dot com boom the IT market got hit badly in 2002-03 & it was a time to be glad to have a job. I had a 3 pay freeze which was not nice. I do not get a feeling there is a squeeze on IT jobs currently as there was under supply last year.

[osarusan]

Unemployment does not affect individuals much until they are out of work.

Stating the obvious, or am I missing something?

[pete]

Stating the obvious, or am I missing something?

Less tax revenue affects everyone but not directly.

[blobbyblob]

It might sound stupid, but I think Denis O' Briens investment in Trappatoni may have been the best spent million in Ireland for years.

When you look back at Italia 90 and the state of the irish economy, it was on its knees. Irelands performance in Euro 88 and Italia 90 gave the country a belief that we could compete on a world stage and confidence that had been absent and provided the spark to get the Cetlic Tiger out of her bed.

I dont think that you can understate the importance of having a successful international team.

Since the days of the SSIAs we have become a nation of amateur economists. Every dog on the street has an opinion on tracker mortgages, oil prices and hedge funds. We're a nation of sheep in many respects - frightened sheep at the moment.I know other factors influence a countrys competitiveness but IF Trappa is successful I can see the economy following suit once more and the wolves being scared away from the door.

Thats a well spent million.

[shakermaker1982]

To be classified as being unemployed you must be actively seeking work (well in the UK anyway and I'm sure the EU are trying to encourage transparency in economic indicators across the board). Have they released any figures for those classified as economically inactive? The family and friends who work in the construction industry in England have started to notice how many Irish labourers are coming across the water looking for work again. Unfortunately the UK building trade has slowed up, there are sites bought just laying idle because Wimpy and co are so afraid about the housing market. Difficult times ahead for all.

[pete]

I think after a certain period of time they look for evidence you have applied for jobs or did interviews? I know when my last company shutdown one of the guys I worked with was asked for proof but they never asked me despite the fact we "joined" the social welfare at around the same time. This might have been around 6-8 weeks.

Heard from engineer in the building industry that work starting to dry up in Dublin so doesn't just affect labourers.

[Poor Student]

I think after a certain period of time they look for evidence you have applied for jobs or did interviews? I know when my last company shutdown one of the guys I worked with was asked for proof but they never asked me despite the fact we "joined" the social welfare at around the same time. This might have been around 6-8 weeks.

As far as I know every few month you must present several signatures of employers confirming you sought a job and were refused. That's obviously open to taking the **** though. People often popped into my father's business shoving a piece of paper in his face and looking for it to be signed with a sense of entitlement without so much as going through the pretence of asking for a job.

Heard from engineer in the building industry that work starting to dry up in Dublin so doesn't just affect labourers.

That's to be expected. Construction has declined so jobs across the board will disappear as they will in associated supply and services associated with the industry.

[mypost]

Irish Times this morning:

"1,000 jobs to be lost in the HSE"

[pete]

You will always hear people complaining that too many administrators in the Health service. However as soon as they want to reduce the number you get the same people complaining. I am not forgetting that the HSE hired a load of people when it was created only a to realise a few years later it does not need them.

[Sheridan]

As far as I know every few month you must present several signatures of employers confirming you sought a job and were refused. That's obviously open to taking the **** though. People often popped into my father's business shoving a piece of paper in his face and looking for it to be signed with a sense of entitlement without so much as going through the pretence of asking for a job.

Heaven forfend that anyone but the middle classes should have a sense of entitlement. Positively how dare they?

[dfx-]

"1,000 jobs to be lost in the HSE"

Good. The HSE should just disappear and not come back.

[cheifo]

Out of interest how do people feel we are going to replace the jobs lost in construction in the next ten years.Are the conditions here attractive enough(coporate tax rate aside) such as R&D/innovation centres good enough to attract new Companies in IT/technology, Biotech etc locate here?

[Poor Student]

Heaven forfend that anyone but the middle classes should have a sense of entitlement. Positively how dare they?

You shouldn't feel entitled to the signature unless you've genuinely sought employment. It's something to be signed after you've been rejected or told no places are available. As I said, some people don't even bother to go that far.