The latest results from the Quarterly National Household Survey show a slowdown in the rate at which employment is growing. The figures, released by the Central Statistics Office this morning, show that the number of people getting jobs in the last year to August 2000 grew by 40,000 less than the record growth of the previous year. The figures are based on a survey of 39,000 Irish households.
In recent years, there has been a sustained increase in labour force participation rates. Most notably among people under 25, including students, and among married women returning to work. Ireland's growing population has also boosted the size of the labour force. However, the latest figures show the rate of this growth is slowing down after a peak last year. According to the Central Statistics Office, the pool of potential labour supply is also shrinking. Despite the slowdown, however, last summer's employment figures, at just under 1.75 million people, are still the highest on record.
Over the past year, the fastest growing sectors were construction, with an increase of 24,500 workers, the wholesale and retail sector, and health and education. The CSO figures show that the amount of women working outside the home is also growing. Just under half of all women are in the workforce.
Fine Gael has said that the survey raised serious questions about the Irish economy's ability to meet further labour capacity demands which will be placed on it. The party's Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman, Denis Naughten, said that the survey highlights the need to facilitate further participation within the labour force and the urgency in removing barriers to employment.
In particular, he said that the failure to develop adequate public policy on childcare has made it difficult for many women to participate in the work force. Mr Naughten said that childcare in Ireland costs an estimated 20% of average earnings, compared to 8% in the rest of Europe.
