Jobs Rise In Ireland Despite Euro Strength

The latest report Measuring Ireland's Progress, 2006, published by the Central Statistics Office, has revealed the advances made in Ireland in terms of economic, social and environmental indices.

However, the report, which benchmarks Ireland's performance against the other EU Member States, showed that Ireland is now fifth based on gross national income - 18% above the EU 25 average.

Investment in Ireland in Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by almost 43% over the period 1996-2005. In each year since 1997, Ireland has invested a higher proportion of GDP in GFCF than the EU 25 average. However Ireland's international trade competitiveness has deteriorated since 2000, mainly due to higher inflation and an appreciating euro. Over the period 1999-2006, the euro increased in value against the dollar by 17%.

The employment rate in Ireland rose from 56.1% in 1997 to 68.1% in 2006. The rate for women increased by over 14 percentage points over that period, while the rate for men rose by around 10 percentage point. Productivity in Ireland, measured as GDP per person employed, was the second highest in the EU 27 in 2005.

The unemployment rate in Ireland increased from a low point of 3.6% in 2001 to 4.3% in 2006. Ireland had the third lowest unemployment rate in the EU 27 in 2006 at just over half of the EU 27 average of 7.9%.

The long-term unemployment rate in Ireland was 1.4% in 2005, which was lower than the EU27 average of 4%.

The employment rate of persons aged 55-64 at 51.7% was higher than the EU 27 average of 42.3% in 2005. However only 37.4% of women in Ireland in this age group were in employment compared to 65.7% of men.

The report noted that Ireland's net official development assistance amounted to 0.42% of GNI in 2005. This was below both the UN 2007 target of 0.7% of GNI and the interim Irish Government 2002 target of 0.45% of GNI.

(SP)