Vol. 418 No. 6
53 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance his views on the contribution to job creation of the private sector; whether he has satisfied himself with this contribution; if he will outline (1) the number of new jobs created and (2) the number of jobs lost in the private sector, for each recorded period for which figures are available during (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The comprehensive employment statistics which are currently compiled relate to total numbers at work at a reference date, rather than to total numbers of new jobs created, or to total numbers of new jobs created in the private sector, over particular periods. Comprehensive figures of total jobs lost, or of total jobs lost in the private sector, are not compiled. The series on `notified redundancies' compiled by the Department of Labour is not a full measure of jobs lost: for example, it relates to proposed rather than actual redundancies, and covers only those prospective job-losses where there may be entitlement to statutory redundancy payments. In consequence, it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
I am satisfied that, in the period to which the Deputy refers, the private sector made a very substantial contribution to net job creation. The annual Labour Force Surveys point to an increase in the total number of jobs in the non-agricultural private sector approaching 60,000 in the three years to mid-April 1991.
With unemployment now over 20% of the labour force, even this pace of private sector job creation falls far short of need. I am heartened, however, by the performance of the private sector since mid-April last despite economic weakness abroad, as indicated by the partial information available since then. I am confident that, as the international economy recovers, the employment response of the private sector will be strong and sustained.
