Unemployment Figures Stabilising

Chambers Ireland has today (27/02/13) said that the latest CSO Live Register figures, which show a standardised unemployment rate of 14.1% in February 2013, unchanged for the past three months, highlight that unemployment has staibilised.

Speaking this afternoon, Seán Murphy, Chambers Ireland Deputy Chief Executive, said “While there have been small changes in the number of people signing on and off the live register, the fact that the standardised rate of unemployment has remained the same for the last three months show that the figures have stabilised, however they remain far too high.”

“While some measures such as the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, and in particular the incentive scheme for companies to hire people in long term unemployment, represent positive steps towards tackling the high unemployment in this country, these improvements will have limited impact without a sharp increase in domestic demand. The Government needs to focus on improving consumer confidence and demand by containing taxes and supporting businesses which will create future employment growth,” he concluded.

-Ends-

For further information contact Amy Woods, Chambers Ireland on 01 400 4319, 086 6081605 or email amy.woods@www.chambers.ie