Press release
Minister Humphreys welcomes latest Live Register figures
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, has welcomed the latest Live Register figures, published by the Central Statistics Office today.
The unadjusted Live Register for April 2022 was 177,004. This reflects a drop of 1,992 on March 2022 figure and is also 965 less than the April 2021 figure, when there were also a further 385,211 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has fallen to 4.8 percent. The Live Register and unemployment rate are now below what they were pre-pandemic.
Minister Humphreys commented:
“Today’s Live Register figure and the monthly unemployment rate also published a few days ago are very encouraging and reflect the re-opening of the economy and the growth in employment.
“Numerous employers are seeking to increase their workforce as we move into the summer season, providing jobseekers with opportunities in a broad range of services and other employments.
“Through Future Building under the government’s Pathways to Work strategy, which I and my colleague Simon Harris launched last week, officials in my department and in the Department of Further and Higher Education and related agencies, will provide the training and skills required by jobseekers that best suits them to find work.
“Our priority now is to ensure that jobseekers here find work. This will be a challenge for many who may be out of work for some time and who may have to reconsider a change in the type of work they had been doing previously.
“This government is here to help jobseekers upskill or retrain, depending on their individual circumstances.
“We will also work with employers to assist them in sourcing staff for the vacancies that they have.”
Later this month, the Department of Social Protection will host over 40 events around the country as part of a jobs fair week with a special focus on the construction industry. This Jobs Fair week will be followed with similar jobs fairs in the coming months that will focus on other industries.
The Minister continued:
“The number of people under the age of 25, who are on the Live Register, stands at 17,120. The seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate is 5.6%.
“While these numbers are low and the labour market outlook for this cohort is positive, it is important that we focus on supporting people in finding quality jobs.
“Starting work on a positive footing can have dividends throughout an individual’s working life.
“For these reasons, and for the benefit of the economy as a whole, we will ensure that jobseekers will get the training and apprenticeships they need to find work as quickly as possible.
“The challenge now is to ensure that the positive outcomes we are experiencing in the labour market are achieved across all sectors of the community and that those who have traditionally faced disadvantage such as lone parents, people with disabilities, minority groups and older people are supported appropriately.”
Minister Humphreys has asked the Labour Market Advisory Council, an independent group of industry leaders and labour market experts, to provide an annual report on progress made with respect to the delivery of Pathways to Work 2021 – 2025 commitments. The first report is due to be completed later this year.