asked the Minister for Finance if he will give estimates of the number of jobs which would need to be created each year (a) to contain unemployment at present levels and (b) to reduce unemployment to the levels prevailing in 1980.
Written Answers. - Job Creations.
316.
The number of new jobs needed to contain unemployment at present levels will depend both on the number of jobs lost each year and on the increase in the labour force.
Job losses have been the major factor contributing to the increase in unemployment in 1983. The rate at which jobs will continue to be lost depends largely on the overall competitiveness of the economy. As the Deputy is aware, the Government have initiated discussions with the main interest groups to inform them of this serious situation and to explore means for improving the economy's competitiveness. Pending the outcome of these discussions, it would be premature to estimate the extent of future job losses.
The labour force has been increasing in recent years by around 20,000 a year. However, it is unlikely that this rate of increase would be maintained if total employment continued to fall.
Regarding the second part of the Deputy's question, some 100,000 additional jobs would be required to reduce unemployment to 1980 levels. The annual rate would depend on the period over which this reduction could be achieved.