Limerick Chamber has today (31/01/13) said that the latest CSO Live Register figures, which show a national standardised unemployment rate of 14.6% in January 2012, unchanged for the past three months, highlight that not enough is being done to stimulate domestic demand and support job creation.
Speaking this morning, Maria Kelly, Limerick Chambers Chief Executive, said “The standardised rate of unemployment has been over 14% since September 2010, spiking just once to 15% last February. The fact that the rate has not fallen substantially in over two years highlights that we are not doing enough to stimulate job creation. On top of this, the IMF has estimated that if it were not for high levels of emigration, this figure would be close to 20% on par with some of those countries in Europe worst affected by this recession.”
“While we welcome the fact that number of those on the live register has dropped in the Mid-West in the past year by 4.5%, this figure disguises the fact that the number of long term unemployed (1 year or more) actually increased in the region. The Government must face up to the fact that the levels of unemployment will not be tackled without a resolute focus on stimulating domestic demand as it is from strong domestic demand that existing jobs are secured and new jobs are created” she concluded.
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For more information contact Edwina Gore on 061-217607 or egore@limerickchamber.ie
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