Live Register number fell in March

[hiker]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

[Catalpa]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

I must say I'm becoming increasingly suspicious of anything the Establishment comes out with these days.

There are so many ways to massage the figures I'd take these latest ones with a grain salt.

[hiker]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

I must say I'm becoming increasingly suspicious of anything the Establishment comes out with these days.

There are so many ways to massage the figures I'd take these latest ones with a grain salt.

Can we say the same about the recent inflation figures?
Nothing more than tabloid banner headlines designed to sell papers and get the people anxious?

As a PD supporter I would naturally prefer to highlight the positive side of our economy.

But good news is no news.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Why is unemployment still higher than the 3.1% in 2001? Displacement.

[CookieMonster]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

They are not signing on because THEY CAN'T AFFORD PENS! The economy is that bad.

[Munion]

There have been a few well publicised announcements of a lot of job losses at individual sites (ie. 100+ jobs). Motorola, P&G etc.

What doesn't make headlines are the multitude of job creations in smaller numbers (>20) at a wide variety of sites. There have been two announcements this week around Blanchardstown. My own company recently hired 3 new staff (plus 1 other to replace a lad who'd retired).

Personally I think it's far healthier to have many small sets of jobs created than a few big one's.

[HanleyS]

I'm confused at these figures. Are they all gone to work in construction or something? Or has there been a ginormous boom in SMEs in the last three months?

[smiffy]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

Well, the main thing to point out is that the Live Register is not a reliable measure of unemployment, as it doesn't adequately disaggregate those who are signing on from those who are 'genuinely' unemployed (e.g. it includes part-time workers, certain workers on disability, etc.).

However, the paranoia of Catalpa and dishonesty and stupidity of FutureTaoiseach aside, the more reliable figures that we do have - the Quarterly National Household Survey - does show that there has been no significant increase in unemployment in recent years either as a proportion of the workforce or in absolute terms.

[Catalpa]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0413/jobless.html?rss

Despite a spate of recent job losses the live register is still down.
Are people not signing on when they lose their jobs or are we creating more jobs than are lost?

Frontpage headlines would suggest that we are in an employment meltdown but that does not seem to be the case.

Thoughts?

Well, the main thing to point out is that the Live Register is not a reliable measure of unemployment, as it doesn't adequately disaggregate those who are signing on from those who are 'genuinely' unemployed (e.g. it includes part-time workers, certain workers on disability, etc.).

However, the paranoia of Catalpa and dishonesty and stupidity of FutureTaoiseach aside, the more reliable figures that we do have - the Quarterly National Household Survey - does show that there has been no significant increase in unemployment in recent years either as a proportion of the workforce or in absolute terms.

the more reliable figures that we do have - the Quarterly National Household Survey

How do you know they are reliable?

[smiffy]

the more reliable figures that we do have - the Quarterly National Household Survey

How do you know they are reliable?

Because I know about the methology by which both sets of statistics are compiled. Now, I've no intention of entering into a discussion with you on it, as you have no interest in statistical accuracy and only accept those figures which seem to confirm what you believe to be the case, and reject those which don't.

But go and look it up on the CSO website if you're that interested. Perhaps you can tell us how levels of unemployment in the country could be measured. Maybe you'd like someone to stand on O'Connell Street on a particular day, count the number of people they think looks unemployed and extrapolate that across the entire population.