Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
58
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the number of new jobs created in the past six months; the number of jobs lost in the same period; her plans to ensure adequate creation of new jobs to compensate for current or expected losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3380/02]
The provision of jobs is a day to day matter for the development agencies and not one for which I, as Minister, would have a direct function.
The Forfás annual employment survey for 2001 shows that new full-time jobs created in firms supported by the agencies – IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland – amounted to 27,328, while job losses in these firms came to 30,142 for the year, giving an overall reduction of 2,814. The figures for Shannon Development amount to 1,810 jobs created, with 2,508 job losses, giving an overall reduction of 698 in 2001. Figures are not yet available for the county enterprise boards-assisted companies. While precise figures are not available for the period from June to December, the overall economic situation was characterised by strong growth in the first part of the year, giving way to a sharp deceleration as the year progressed. Inevitably, therefore, the job losses were concentrated towards the latter part of the year.
New job creation was evenly split between Irish-owned and foreign-owned firms. In addition, 2001 showed an improved regional balance of job creation, with the BMW region accounting for 25% of gross job gains, compared to 17% in 1999 and 20% in 2000.
The net reduction in employment last year should be seen in the context of the world-wide slowdown, the incidence of foot and mouth disease, the downturn in the ICT sector, and the tragic events of September in the United States of America. It should also be borne in mind that total employment in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors has increased by around 50% in the ten years since 1992. The years of record growth may be at an end for now but Ireland is performing very strongly in comparison to European economies.
The 2001 outcome nevertheless reinforces the need for firms in Ireland to increase their competitiveness and re-position in market sectors with greater potential for profitable growth. The strategies of the enterprise development agencies are now firmly fixed on building and providing the infrastructure for high value-added and knowledge-intensive industries. In addition, the Government will continue to focus on enhancing the country's skills base, improving our infrastructure network, shaping the regulatory environment and encouraging companies to move up the value chain. There will continue to be challenges in the year ahead, but many vacancies still exist in the economy and I am confident that, going forward, the Government's policies will be successful in minimising the effects of the difficulties experienced in 2001 with new jobs continuing to be created across a wide range of sectors.
