9th January 2014
- Latest CSO figures show more people are at work since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012
Live Register Figures for Cork City and Carrigaline are now at their lowest in 6 years. This shows that the national trend of falling unemployment for 30 months in a row is being felt in Cork. This is very much to be welcomed.
Another drop in the Live Register in December emphasises that the economy is in recovery and that more people are entering the jobs market. In Cork City the number of people on the Live Register has fallen to 14,065, the lowest number since January 2009. Similarly in the Carrigaline area it is down to 1,843, the lowest since February 2009.
I am particularly encouraged that the Live Register here in Cork City has dropped by 34% from an unacceptable high in 2009. In the Carrigaline area it is down 32%. While this is great news for all those who have secured jobs there is however more work to be done.
I hope and expect to see a further drop in these figures in the coming months. This year there will be an increased focus on job creation as the Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton is preparing to launch a pilot programme of the Regional Enterprise Strategy. This strategy will help to ensure that all areas of our country benefit from the improved employment market.
Nationally, the latest CSO Live Register figures show that the unemployment rate has dropped to 10.6% from a high of 15.1% in 2012. More people are at work and they can expect to see a little more money in their bank account from this month onwards thanks to changes made to the tax and USC system in Budget 2015.
As the economy grows the Government is in a position to give back to the Irish people who have sacrificed so much. All workers will see a small increase in their earnings starting from this month but we know that personal taxation is still too high. We are committed to pursuing policies that make work pay and ensure that people in all parts of the country feel the benefit of the growing economy.
Things are moving in the right direction and the latest Live Register figures give us confidence that the policies pursued by this Government are working. Through hard work and dedication a strong, sustainable recovery can be delivered right throughout the country and in particular here in Cork.