Number of young people on live register creeps up again to over 30,000
- slight increase in line with seasonal trends but
- over 11,000 young people long-term unemployed still far too high
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has today highlighted concerns at the number of young people who are long term unemployed. New figures released today (01.06.17) by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number of those aged under 25 signing on the Live Register in May was 30,253.
Concern at long-term unemployed young people
Commenting on today’s figures James Doorley, NYCI deputy director said: “While we are disappointed at the increase in young people signing on, of even greater concern is the high number of long-term unemployed young people. The overall figures mask the underlying problem of long term youth unemployment. At 11,711, a substantial cohort of young people has been unemployed for 12 months or more, with 3,683 unemployed for 3 years or more.”*
According to Eurostat data Ireland also has the 8th highest rate of young people out of the EU27 member states ‘not in education, employment or training’**. NYCI is calling on Government to develop an action plan under the Youth Guarantee Programme to more than halve long term youth unemployment by end of 2018, reducing the number of young long term unemployed to 5,000.
“We are calling on Government to commit to reducing the number of young people under 26 who are long term unemployed to under 5,000 by the end of 2018. It is vital we support young jobseekers into education, training and work experience and prevent the drift into long-term joblessness. This will require a renewed focus on the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the provision of additional education and training places,” explained Mr Doorley.
“We recommend an additional investment of €50.7m in Budget 2018 to reduce the number of young people long term unemployed by the end of 2018.*** This is the gross cost as this investment would lead to reduced social welfare payments as more young people move into employment that would save €35.7m per annum. As the economy recovers we should be much more ambitious in tackling long term unemployment in particular among young people. Our proposals are achievable and we look forward to engaging with the new Taoiseach on this issue in the coming weeks,” concluded Mr Doorley.
Sources:
*Parliamentary Questions: Written answers http://oireachtasdebates.oirea
** http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists
*** This is based on the average cost of a SOLAS training place of €7,578, to provide the required 6,700 places would require an investment of €50.7m. This cost would be off-set by reduced social welfare payments of up to €35.7m per annum. Cost of young person on Jobseekers Allowance (lower rate) is €5340 per annum. The estimated saving is based on 6,700 fewer young people in receipt of this payment.
