Tag Archives: Minister for Jobs

The Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald, along with Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, have today (Monday) hosted a joint stakeholder dialogue on “Enterprise Skills Needs and Brexit” in the Aviva in Dublin. This event is part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with stakeholders in relation to the impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. It provides an opportunity to hear the voices of those affected by Brexit, both directly and through representative groups. The event is of considerable interest to Mid-West businesses and industries that are heavily dependent on links with the UK. Noting that action to improve the skills base represents one of the most practical and effective domestic responses to Brexit, the Tánaiste said “Government is well prepared for the negotiations around the UK exit from the EU but we need to be ready on all fronts to deal with the implications of Brexit and the skills area is …

THE latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), show that for the first time since Quarter 4 2008 there are now two million people employed in the State. All regions of the country saw a fall in unemployment in the past year. Since 2012 when the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched 176,000 more people are at work, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor has confirmed. The figures from the CSO also show that there is strong and continued employment growth in all regions of the country. Employment has grown in 12 out of 14 economic sectors, with largest increases recorded in construction, manufacturing and accommodation and food service activities. Speaking today (Tuesday) Minister Mitchell O’Connor said, “These figures from the Central Statistics Office are very encouraging and continue to show that the numbers of people employed in full time jobs is increasing steadily and I am particularly pleased to see …

A net total of 3,533 new full and part-time jobs were delivered in 2015 by the 6,500 small businesses from across the country that have been supported by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), according to Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor. The results, compiled by Enterprise Ireland following a survey, show that overall in 2015 a total of 7,122 new full and part time jobs were created in gross terms. The numbers employed in LEO supported small businesses currently stand at 32,592 overall. The 31 LEOs provide a ‘first stop shop’ for supports and signposting to start-ups, micro enterprises and small businesses nationwide in one easily accessible place. Commenting on the 2015 results, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said, “The creation of 3,533 net new jobs in 2015 by clients of the Local Enterprise Offices is a remarkable achievement and testament to the hard work and personal sacrifices being made by entrepreneurs in local communities all around the country. I …

The Government has today (Monday) launched the Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at delivering 10-15% employment growth in the region by 2020. The plan is the fourth of eight regional jobs plans to be published as part of a new €250million regional jobs strategy led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton. Having suffered very badly during the economic crisis, unemployment has now fallen from 16% when the first national Action Plan was launched to 11.2% this year. Numbers in work have started to steadily increase, with agency led jobs growing by 9% between 2011 and 2014. At the launch in Limerick, Minister Bruton said the challenge for this Regional Action Plan is to build on that success and target growth in key sectors of potential like Aviation, Lifesciences, Engineering, Internationally Traded Services and Tourism. If the potential of these sectors is harnessed properly an extra 23,000 jobs can be added by 2020. Key targets of …

The latest Live Register figures, show a continuing fall in the numbers of people signing on, marking 39 consecutive months of decrease. Annual decreases in Live Register figures occurred in all eight regions, with the fastest decrease occurring in the Mid-West region. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton welcomed the fact that the figures show signs that the positive trends are accelerating. On a seasonally adjusted basis, 4,300 people left the live register in February. The standardised unemployment rate is at 10.1%, down 0.2% in the month, and down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012, when the Government launched and started implementing the Action Plan for Jobs. The figures also show that, in gross terms, 141,151 people left the Live Register to take up work during the last 12 months. This means that the exit rate from the Live Register into work is running at 40% – up from 33% in 2012. Minister Bruton said, …

CLARE hurling star, Shane O’Donnell has been unveiled as a SFI Smart Futures ambassador. The position is part of a three-year plan to deliver increase in uptake of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, in launching Science Foundation Ireland’s Smart Futures initiative, outlined how the aim is to achieve a 10% increase in the uptak in STEM subjects at second and third level by 2016. Smart Futures is a partnership between Government, industry and educators, which provides post-primary students, guidance counsellors and parents with important career supports in the areas STEM. The new three year strategy aims to raise awareness of STEM career opportunities among students, parents, guidance counsellors and people who influence students by encouraging industry to play an increased role. Shane, who is studying genetics at University College Cork, has been recruited by SFI to become an ambassador for Smart Futures. The 19-year-old became one of the most talked …