Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 6

Written Answers. - Labour Force Participation Rates.

Derek McDowell

Question:

65 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the participation rates of women in the workforce are adequate to meet the needs of the labour market; the most recent data available in relation to the level of participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26899/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

It is unclear precisely what the Deputy means by the needs of the labour market. Viewed in the narrow sense of labour supply and demand, those needs are already being met in that current participation rates represent the response of potential workers generally, including female workers, to the terms and conditions which employers have seen fit to offer in response to the market opportunities facing them. Viewed in a broad socio-economic context, there is no demonstrably correct answer to the question as to whether present participation rates represent an ideal balance between the full range of societal concerns and aspirations.

Ireland's female participation rate has increased sharply from 36.8% in 1992 to 46.0% in March-May 1999. A detailed breakdown of the latter figure, by age, is available in the latest quarterly national household survey.

While future developments will reflect those broader societal concerns and aspirations, in the context of a projected falling trend in the unemployment rate, international experience suggests that female participation will continue to increase. In this connection, I refer the Deputy to the views expressed in the CSO's latest Population and Labour Force Projections published in July last. It states:

There have been dramatic gains in the labour force participation rates of married females in the recent past. Notwithstanding these increases, Ireland still lags somewhat behind most countries of the EU in terms of the labour force participation rates of married females. It is therefore, assumed that the catching up process will continue largely through further increases in the participation rates of married females in the 25-59 age group. No major changes are projected in the participation rates of other females.