Positive News As Live Register number hits lowest level since 2008

Recent figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the number of people signing on for social welfare benefits fell by 2,800 in February hitting its lowest level since November 2008.

The data shows that the number of people on the live register last month fell by of 44,356. There were a total of 117,048 live claimants last month. That number reveals that there has been a 40pc drop in the number of people signing on since the peak of the crisis in 2012.

“This positive data reflects what we are seeing in the market across the country”,

“The opportunities for graduates with technical experience is even a more positive story for Ireland as companies compete in the war for talent.”

Ken Murphy, Director CareerWise Recruitment

While the Live Register is not a measure of unemployment as claimants can work part time, it is good barometer of the health of the labour market.

Separate CSO figures, published earlier in the week, put the State’s headline rate of unemployment at a post-crash low of 6.6 per cent.

“We’ve seen the largest declines to date this year in Border, Midlands and South East counties which is very good news. Cumulatively, that’s evidence of real and substantial progress,”

Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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