asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what is the total number of workers in insurable occupations in the Free State; what numbers of these have applied for unemployment benefit in the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and in the current year; to what numbers in the years named has unemployment benefit been allowed.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WORKERS IN INSURABLE OCCUPATIONS.
The total number of workers in insurable occupations as shown by the number of unemployment books current at the end of the last completed year, was 245,613. The statistical information compiled in my Department is based, not on the calendar year, but on the benefit year. There have been six completed benefit years between July, 1923, and October, 1926. Particulars of applications for benefit and of applications allowed in each of those benefit years and in the current benefit year up to 19th September last are as follows:—
|
Applications received. |
Applications allowed. |
|
|
1st Benefit Year |
62,998 |
58,580 |
|
2nd Benefit Year |
115,828 |
95,339 |
|
3rd Benefit Year |
82,908 |
77,621 |
|
4th Benefit Year |
96,098 |
86,821 |
|
5th Benefit Year |
76,734 |
61,940 |
|
6th Benefit Year |
98,286 |
86,985 |
|
Current Benefit Year |
57,130 |
51,321 |
Under the procedure in force up to the 25th March, 1925, namely, the end of the fourth benefit year, the number of applications received does not necessarily mean that a corresponding number of individuals applied for benefits, as the same person could have made several applications. The numbers given of applications received since the end of the fourth benefit year represent so many individual claimants.
The total number of workers registered as unemployed, some of whom are not insurable, is always greater than the number receiving benefit. On 19th September last—to give one particular date—the number registered as unemployed was 17,784; the number of applications for benefit current was 11,479.