A new report shows that 33,000 of Dublin's accommodation and food service jobs, which include jobs in drinks and hospitality businesses like pubs, hotels, and restaurants, could be lost by the end of the year without additional supports from government.
The report was commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) and carried out by DCU Business School economist Anthony Foley.
It shows that the 15-24 age group, which comprises nearly a third of all accommodation and food service employment in Dublin, is particularly exposed and could suffer 10,600 job losses before the end of 2020.
The report suggests that as many as 63% of all accommodation and food services jobs in Ireland - 114,000 in total - could be lost by the end of the year without further supports.
It noted that 7.6% of all national employment is in accommodation and food services. 31.8% of all workers are in the 15-24 age group, and the majority of all employees are women - 54.6%.
The study also states that the industry's current commercial environment is dire - restaurants are operating at about 60% capacity, pubs serving food at 50%, and hotels at 25%.
DIGI said these figures are unlikely to improve over Christmas and the winter period. Tourism is non-existent, and few social or cultural activities are permitted, it added.
Today's report also suggests that the lockdown in Dublin will have knock-on effects on drinks and hospitality businesses elsewhere in the country as Dubliners cancel their bookings in regional hotels, restaurants and pubs.
It noted that in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, accommodation and food service jobs make up 8.5% of all employment.
In Donegal, accommodation and food service employment is nearly 8% of all county employment, and in Kerry the figure is as high as 10.5%, it added.
Liam Reid, Chair of DIGI, said that Dublin's lockdown, and further restrictions on restaurants and pubs serving food, will have grave material consequences for thousands of livelihoods, hundreds of businesses and local communities, and Ireland's long-term economic prospects.
Mr Reid said that every drinks and hospitality business owner in Dublin and across the country realises the public health risks associated with Covid.
"They have supported the longest hospitality lockdown in Europe and where they have been able to open, they have taken steps to ensure their staff and customers are safe, and that their premises are controlled environments, and invested tens of thousands of euros doing so," he said.
Mr Reid said that if the 2008 crash showed us anything, it's that what we lose now cannot be simply reconstructed next year.
"If businesses cannot operate, jobs will go. This is a highly precarious industry, and every week of closure counts. The long-term risk is enormous, and a specific package of support measures is urgently required," he added.
