Employment Affairs and Social Protection Committee publishes report on helping jobseekers find work

The Labour Activation report identifies many areas where jobseekers’ supports have improved in speed and effectiveness in recent years. It also highlights areas where existing practices, inter-agency coordination, training programmes and other opportunities could be redesigned and strengthened to help jobseekers find work more easily in an Ireland beset with skills shortages.

“Over the past two years, the Committee has heard from many stakeholders, including the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, unions and employer representatives, academics and advocacy groups. This gathering of essential information and perspectives informs the Committee’s wide range of recommendations in this report,” said Committee Chairman John Curran TD.

“Recommendations include waiving the requirement for full-time availability to be eligible for Jobseekers’ payments, and increasing offers of education and training opportunities to reduce long-term unemployment,” Deputy Curran said. “I am happy to say the Joint Committee has already begun to implement some of our own recommendations. In July 2018 we published a report assessing supports available to people with disabilities transitioning into employment. We are currently holding a series of discussions on JobPath.”

Read the full Labour Activation report here.