Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
372. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the unemployment levels amongst social groups, that is, men, women, young people, people with disabilities, and migrants; what specific plans her Department has to support these groups and increase employment across all; the success of these plans to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2842/24]
View answer402. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the underemployment levels amongst social groups, that is, men, women, young people, people with disabilities, and migrants; what specific plans her Department has to support these groups and increase employment across all; the success of these plans to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2841/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 402 together.
The latest monthly unemployment figures from the CSO for December 2023 record an unemployment rate of 4.9%; in this regard, below 5% is traditionally considered to be full employment. This rate is slightly higher for males than females, standing at 5.1 and 4.6 percent respectively. The unemployment rate for young people aged 15-24 years stood at 13.4 percent in December 2023.
The Labour Force Survey estimates that 130,800 people (4.7 percent of the total labour force) were working part-time and under-employed in the third quarter of 2023. This is comprised of 48,300 males (3.3% of the male labour force) and 82,500 females (6.3% of the female labour force).
It is a Government priority to encourage people into employment and reduce dependence on social welfare income supports. Pathways to Work (2021-2025), the Government's employment services and activation framework, commits to supporting those who are most distant from the labour market as well as those who are employed and wish to upskill, to reach their potential. My Department's Intreo Employment Service supports jobseekers and delivers targeted measures to achieve this goal, by:
• providing an intensive model of engagement with young people profiled as being at risk of long-term unemployment. The frequency of engagement with a case officer has increased from once a month to once a fortnight, to provide enhanced support to this priority cohort.
• Working with employers, both directly one-on-one and through hosting bespoke job fairs and local recruitment events for young jobseekers (under 30 years), workforce returners and older workers - connecting jobseekers with employers in sectors experiencing shortages, such as the health and construction sectors.
• Making the higher rate of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy available to employers who hire an older unemployed person (over 50 years) or a person with a criminal record, in receipt of a qualifying payment.
• Extending the eligibility criteria of Community Employment Schemes to include beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive who have arrived in Ireland from the Ukraine.
• Making referrals to appropriate English language skills, numeracy and literacy courses that are delivered by 16 Education and Training Boards across the State.
• Referring jobseekers and those who are employed to relevant upskilling and reskilling opportunities in the Further and Education Sector that align with sectoral needs.
Further, my Department has introduced an early engagement process for people with disabilities to help them achieve their employment ambitions and to reduce the unemployment rate for people with a disability, which is estimated at 22 percent according to CSO Census 2022. This process is entirely voluntary and is being implemented in line with principles agreed with stakeholders. To date, approximately 1,000 participants have been referred directly to work, to State employment schemes, or to further education and training opportunities.
To ensure that Government policy objectives remain relevant in the current labour market context, my Department will later this quarter publish the mid-term review of the Pathways to Work Strategy. This review has been informed by the Labour Markey Advisory Council, a public consultation process and engagement with key stakeholders.
