Gerry Adams
Question:60. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to tackle the rise in underemployment as reported in the latest house quarterly survey. [41595/12]
View answerTuesday, 2 October 2012
Questions (60)
Written answers
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) provides estimates of the number of people who are working on a part-time basis involuntarily, which is also known as part-time underemployment.
Involuntary part-time work is defined by the OECD as comprising three groups: i) individuals who usually work full-time but who are working part-time because of economic slack; ii) individuals who usually work part-time but are working fewer hours in their part-time jobs because of economic slack; and iii) those working part-time because full-time work could not be found.
The estimated number of part-time underemployed persons in the second quarter of 2012 was 150,900. This number has been increasing continuously over recent years having been under 100,000 up to the start of 2009. Part-time underemployed people now account for over one-third (35.6%) of all people working on a part-time basis.
Opportunities to access full-time jobs and up-skilling and further career development are essential to overcome involuntary part-time work and to provide individuals with the necessary means to maintain their employability and make transitions work.
It will be through transitioning the economy onto a competitive and sustainable path that greater employment opportunities will be created for those that are currently underemployed. The policies to address underemployment are not dissimilar to wider employment strategy. Assisting companies to win new markets, to innovate and grow are essential to overcome underemployment. The Action Plan for Jobs concentrates on implementing changes to help promote entrepreneurship, improve access to finance, the capacity of our companies and educational institutions to innovate and build new sectors of opportunity.