Bernard Durkan
Question:180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent of long-term unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26250/17]
View answerWednesday, 31 May 2017
Questions (180)
Written answers
Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, and in particular the long-term unemployed.
Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, the long term unemployment rate has fallen rapidly since it peaked at 9.5% in Q1 2012. The most recent figure is 3.6% in Q1 2017, and a strong downward trend continues.
The Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy continues to prioritise actions for the long-term unemployed. This includes the payment-by-results services of JobPath to engage more systematically with the long-term unemployed; providing targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.
I am confident these measures, and continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in long-term unemployment and add to the substantial improvements that have already been seen over the last few years.