asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the policy changes which the Government propose to reduce unemployment and emigration, having regard to the following facts: (a) that 156,000 people have left the country in the five years to April, 1989 according to the Central Statistics Office (b) that the actual number of people at work in the past year has dropped according to recently published Central Statistics Office figures and (c) that 232,000 persons are on the register for unemployment for the month of September 1989.
Written Answers. - Unemployment and Emigration.
48.
The Government's policies on employment are clearly set out in the Programme for National Recovery, the National Development Plan and the Programme for Government. The focus of policy is to create the conditions in the economy that lead to improved competitiveness and continuing growth in sustainable employment. An analysis of the evidence shows that these policies are succeeding.
The preliminary results of the 1989 labour force survey show that total employment in April last was 10,000 higher than in April, 1987. Given the fall of 20,000 in public sector employment over this period, this points to a very buoyant performance from private sector employment. The evidence since April suggests that employment is continuing to improve. Data from the CSO show that the seasonally adjusted level of employment in manufacturing was 1,200 higher in June compared to March. Building employment is also expanding rapidly with the index for larger firms in the year to September up almost 11 per cent. Services employment is likely to be performing strongly given the excellent tourist season and buoyant domestic economic activity due to increased investment and consumer spending.
The level of unemployment is falling in response to these favourable employment developments. The seasonally adjusted level of unemployment at end-October was over 9,000 lower than at the beginning of the year. The actual number on the live register is now 13,000 lower than the level a year ago.
It is clear that the Government's policies on employment and job creation are working and it is the Government's intention to continue to pursue these successful policies.
Sustainable growth in employment is, in the final analysis, the only viable approach to tackling unemployment and emigration.