State training and employment agency Fás has warned that unemployment in Ireland could go over 100,000 in 2003.
In its quarterly review of the labour markets Fás said unemployment was rising at at faster rate in Ireland than in most EU states. Fás said unemployment, which rose from 4.0% to 4.5% last year, could top 5% this year and that employment growth 'slowed appreciably' last year, mainly due to a shrinking industrial sector.
The review also claims that many private sector employers will plead inability to pay the wage increases under the new partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress.
