Ireland's unemployment continues to rise - major challenge for policy development

The seasonally adjusted number of people on the Live Register increased from 439,100 in May to 444,900 in June 2010, an increase of 5,800. According to the Central Statistic’s Office’s most recent publication the unadjusted numbers saw an increase in the Live Register of 37,420 (+9.0%). This compares with an increase of 43,788 (+11.1%) in the year to May 2010.

A number of things should be noted in these numbers.

· There are a total of 41,790 males and 37,449 females who are part-time workers and are included in these Live Register numbers.

The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment.It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for January to March 2010, is 275,000 persons unemployed an increase of 52,200 (+23.4%) over the previous year.

No matter how it is counted unemployment continues to be a huge challenge at the core of Ireland’s policy process.