At budget time my Department forecast growth in 2005 to be 5.1% in GDP terms and 4.7% in GNP terms. Employment growth was forecast at 1.9%. As is customary, these forecasts will be updated in August with the publication of the Economic Review and Outlook.
The impact on employment of lower than forecast growth would vary according to the source of the lower growth. For example, if growth was lower due to a fall in net exports the employment effect could be expected to be less than if growth was lower due to slower growth in domestic demand. It should be noted, however, that available data point to strong employment growth in the first quarter of this year. According to the quarterly national household survey, total employment grew by 3.9% year on year in the first three months of 2005.