JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the live register is recruited and €10,000 for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months. The subsidy is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of May 2014, JobsPlus has concluded arrangements to support 2,385 jobseekers in full-time employment with 1,811 employers nationally. Around 60% of jobseekers being supported had been on the live register for over 24 months at the time of recruitment. The Department is currently processing 247 applications for the scheme.
The following table outlines the number of employees supported in each county at the end of May 2014.
Persons supported by JobsPlus at end May 2014
County
|
Number of Employees Supported
|
%
|
Dublin
|
659
|
27.6%
|
Cork
|
206
|
8.6%
|
Galway
|
129
|
5.4%
|
Waterford
|
115
|
4.8%
|
Kildare
|
98
|
4.1%
|
Tipperary
|
96
|
4.0%
|
Donegal
|
91
|
3.8%
|
Limerick
|
89
|
3.7%
|
Louth
|
86
|
3.6%
|
Wicklow
|
79
|
3.3%
|
Meath
|
73
|
3.1%
|
Kerry
|
73
|
3.1%
|
Wexford
|
70
|
2.9%
|
Mayo
|
62
|
2.6%
|
Westmeath
|
57
|
2.4%
|
Laois
|
54
|
2.3%
|
Monaghan
|
53
|
2.2%
|
Kilkenny
|
44
|
1.8%
|
Sligo
|
38
|
1.6%
|
Clare
|
37
|
1.6%
|
Carlow
|
37
|
1.6%
|
Cavan
|
36
|
1.5%
|
Longford
|
35
|
1.5%
|
Offaly
|
32
|
1.3%
|
Roscommon
|
21
|
0.9%
|
Leitrim
|
15
|
0.6%
|
Total
|
2,385
|
100.0%
|