December 2012 marks the sixth month in a row in which there was a decrease in the number of people signing on to the Live Register. Recent information released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals that the seasonally adjusted Live Register figure has recorded a fall of 1,400 people, which brings the final total for 2012 to 430,900. This number represents a decrease of 2.6% for the entire year to date. Unfortunately the primary influencing factor in this decline is not an increase in employment but rather a rise in emigration. This trend is particularly prevalent among people aged 25 and over and is of significant concern for the Irish economy. With more and more recent graduates having to discover employment opportunities abroad, this creates a talent and skills drain among Ireland’s workforce.
In an effort to combat this, the Government have created many innovative employment stimulus initiatives such as the Job Bridge Internship programme and most recently, the Momentum project. Cpl Learning & Development is proud to participate in Momentum, which seeks to provide nationwide training for jobseekers and provide them with the necessary skills to re-enter the workforce. The aim of the project is to deliver a ‘Journey to Employment’ experience for those currently looking for work. Participants in the programme will learn the skills needed to secure technical roles within the Food and Healthcare Industries. The Momentum courses run for a period of up to 6 months with a work placement period of approximately, 3 months.
In 2013, job creation must remain the utmost priority for Irish policymakers. At Cpl we feel it is our obligation to do everything we can to support Government initiatives that generate employment and produce positive economic outcomes for Ireland.
There was more positive news in the Banking Sector this month, as evidenced by the latest Money & Banking Statistics report released by the Central Bank of Ireland. November was a particularly encouraging month for the sector, with both Bank of Ireland and AIB announcing their return to the covered bond market. This news is most beneficial for Ireland’s financial services industry as it may represent a first step to reducing the reliance of these banks on monetary authorities.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all jobseekers the very best with their employment endeavours in 2013. Now is the time to make a New Year’s resolution to revaluate your job search technique. This might mean re-examining your CV to ensure it is perfect, focusing on developing your networking skills, reskilling and being proactive about your career ambitions. I sincerely hope that 2013 provides you with the personal and professional growth you deserve.
Anne Heraty
