05/09/2013

CSO Figures Show Unemployment Rate Is Dropping

Labour Deputy John Lyons has welcomed the new CSO figures released today which confirm the positive downward trend in the numbers signing on the Live Register.

He said: "This is the fourth month in a row that the unemployment rate has dropped. The total number of people signing on has decreased by around 20,000 over the past year which represents a drop of 4.6%.

"These positive figures follow on from separate CSO figures last week that indicated that the number of people employed has increased year-on-year by 33,800. Year-on-year full-time employment also increased by 21,600 (1.5%), which is the first such increase since the first quarter of 2008.

"In addition, the CSO also reported that the long term unemployment rate is now 8.1% - down from 9.2% year ago.

"When Labour entered government in 2011, 250,000 people had lost their jobs under the Fianna Fail/Green government between 2008 and 2011. Now, approximately 2000 new jobs a month are being created under this government.

"Labour's relentless focus since entering government has been to tackle the unacceptable unemployment rate and to get people back to work. There is clearly still a long way to go but these figures are very encouraging and confirm that the government’s jobs policy is having a positive effect."

(CD/MH)

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