Irish Unemployment figures hits five-year low of 11.5%
the NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT WORK in ireland ROSE TO 1.9M IN JUNE, THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2009
Ireland’s unemployment rate has fallen to five-year low of 11.5%, dipping below the euro zone average for the first time since the financial crisis began.
However, the latest Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) also indicates the rate of job creation in the economy while still positive has moderated in comparison to last year.
Regarded as the most reliable set of numbers on the economy, the survey, compiled by the Central Statistics Office, shows the number of people employed in the State in the second quarter of this year was 1.9 million, representing an annual increase of 31,600 or 1.7%.
The figures show the number of unemployed people in the economy fell by 12,700 during the second quarter. This was the eighth consecutive quarterly fall in unemployment.
As a result, the State’s jobless rate fell from 12% to 11.5%, its lowest level since the final quarter of 2009, bringing it below the euro area average of 11.8%.
The survey’s headline rate of unemployment is now the same as the rate estimated by the CSO’s Live Register.
The figures also indicated employment growth – a key measure of economic health – rose by 0.2%, equating to 4,300 jobs, in the second quarter.
While this represents a marginal increase on the 0.1% growth witnessed in the first quarter, it is significantly down on the rates of employment growth recorded last year.
However, several analysts said much of the employment growth of last year was in part-time jobs while more recent gains have been in full-time work, as evidenced by the 2.3% annual increase Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employment. This would suggest Ireland’s economy recovery is strengthening rather than weakening.
Nonetheless, a worrying development was the disparity in economic recovery between the regions with the latest figures showing unemployment in Dublin City and county falling by 2% on an annual basis but only by 0.5% in the West, which covers Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.
A breakdown of the numbers showed employment increased in ten of 14 economic sectors over the past 12 months, with the largest rates of increase recorded in the administrative and support services sector (+10.7%) and the accommodation and food service sector (+6.2%).
The greatest rates of decline over the year were recorded in the Other Activities sector, which covers a range of miscellaneous industries (- 2.7%); and in the financial, insurance and real estate sector (-1.7%).
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said the figures pointed to a continuing recovery in Ireland’s employment.“This increase is driven by an increase in full-time jobs and there is evidence that people are moving from part-time to full-time work as conditions in the labour market continue to improve,” he said.
His pointed was echoed by Ibec economist Fergal O’Brien who said “while we’re not seeing the eye-watering employment growth of last year, the quality of employment creation is better.”
He said the initial phase of recovery saw employers take on people on a part-time basis but now “we’re seeing significant growth in full-time positions and that’s a sign real confidence in the economy.”
Despite the improving conditions in the labour market, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton ruled out the prospect of wage increases, saying the priority was “to continue to focus on employment opportunities” and to create the environment for enterprises to grow.
Nonetheless, he said he hoped the forthcoming Budget would help hard-pressed middle-income earners who were shouldering a relatively high tax burden compared to workers in other countries.
Alan McQuaid, an economist with Merrion Capital, said: “While emigration has been a contributory factor to bringing down the unemployment numbers over the past couple of years, it is clear from the latest migration figures that there is more to it than just that.”
However, Jimmy Kelly, regional secretary of Unite, said there had been a collapse in job creation while earnings were also falling. “This week’s figures confirm what working people have long suspected: recovery is a myth which is not being felt in their pockets,” he said.
Unreasonable delays will cause Children to suffer in hospital location rethink
SAYS LEO VARADKAR
Health Minister Leo Varadkar is “very concerned” inordinate delays will be caused to the provision of a new national children’s hospital if its location is reconsidered.
The department has stood by the decision to locate the new facility at St James’s Hospital following criticism over the weekend.
Minister Varadkar is worried “no child alive will ever have the benefit of a new hospital”, the Department of Health said.
A spokesman said there is no “perfect site” but St James’s is “second to none” when it comes to the medical expertise already on campus.
He was commenting after the 2012 decision came in for renewed criticism, with Jonathan Irwin of children’s charity the Jack and Jill Foundation calling for a rethink.
He believes traffic congestion at St James’s will create accessibility problems for the families of sick children. Mr Irwin also thinks that a site beside Blanchardstown’s Connolly Hospital is the better location.
In response, the health spokesman said: “It is widely accepted that one or more of the other sites would have advantages from the point of view of road access, cost and planning.
“But St James’s is second to none when it comes to the range of medical facilities and specialist staff already on campus. No other hospital comes close.”
The report of the Dolphin group – which considered all the options – found the St James’s campus already has the widest range of specialist services on site, he said.
“None of the recent commentary brings any new information to the table. This was all considered by Dolphin and the Government at an earlier stage,” the spokesman added.
He said the decision is now made and the project team appointed.
“All things going to plan, planning permission will be secured next year and construction on the new hospital and the satellite centres in Blanchardstown and Tallaght will commence,” the spokesman said.
“Minister Varadkar is very concerned that if consideration of the hospital location and satellite centres is re-opened, it will cause further inordinate delays and no child alive will ever have the benefit of a new hospital,” he added.
One person left Ireland every 13 minutes last year 2013
OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW ALMOST 41,000 IRISH PEOPLE UPPED STICKS AND LEFT IN THE YEAR LEADING UP TO APRIL 2014
One person left the country every 13 minutes last year as emigration continues to hit the country.
Official figures show almost 41,000 Irish people upped sticks and left in the year leading up to April 2014, out of a total 81,900 who moved away.
The figure was down around 10,000 from the year before, but the National Youth Council of Ireland said it was “concerned” by high numbers of young people still leaving the country.
Senior research and policy officer Marie-Claire McAleer said young people were now increasingly moving to the US and EU countries such as Germany and France in search of work.
She added: “We need a pool of well-educated people to attract investment and stimulate and sustain economic growth.”
The NYCI said this “brain drain” of young people could be difficult to reverse.
Around 33,500 of the emigrants were aged between 15 and 24, bringing the total number who moved abroad in the past five years to 165,300.
The number leaving Ireland has steadily increased since 2009, just after the crash.
Around 19,200 left that year, and by 2013 the yearly total had risen to 50,300 – until its first drop this year.
Nearly half of those who left had third-level qualifications, while just over a third had not gone beyond secondary level.
But Ms McAleer said the Government had recognised the problem.
She added: “The appointment of a new Minister of State for the Diaspora Mr Jimmy Deenihan provides an opportunity to respond in a practical manner.
“We now need to turn our attention to supporting those who wish to return.”
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation did not respond to a request for comment.
3 Easy & simple rules to keep you from Drinking too much
It’s only too easy to drink more than you intended. Anyone who’s ever planned to make a cameo appearance at a friend’s party for “just one drink” only to wake up 12 hours later with a headache pounding to the rhythm of the alarm clock can sympathize.
We could all use a few tricks for avoiding alcohol over-consumption some simple rules of thumb to keep us happy and hangover-free.
Luckily, researchers at Cornell and Iowa State Universities have got our backs. A new study from the two universities, published online Monday in the International Journal of Drug Policy, assessed how gender, BMI, and alcohol-serving methods influenced pouring and thus consumption of booze. Whereas past research of this kind has hinged on participants’ own accounts of their drinking behaviors (which is especially problematic when you consider what alcohol does to your memory) this study observed subjects in real time.
Each of 74 college students and staff members some males and females with a range of BMIs, some were asked to free-pour wine in 16 different scenarios. These situations varied according to type of wine (red or white), glass size (standard or extra-wide), and glass positioning (held in one hand while the participant poured with the other, or placed on a table); in each scenario, participants were directed to pour “as much wine as they would normally pour into a glass.”
Participants poured 11.9% more wine into wide glasses than into standard glasses, 12.2% more wine into held glasses than glasses that were set on a table, and 9.2% more wine when the wine was white instead of red. When participants were specifically told to fill their glass halfway (about one full serving of wine), they poured an average of 18% less than when they were making up their serving-size themselves.
BMI and gender influenced pouring behavior, too. Average-BMI men poured 9% more than average-BMI women. Researchers hypothesize that drinking (and intoxication) is viewed as more acceptable for men than for women, and that women are likely to compare their pours with other women’s and regulate accordingly. This could also explain why women’s pouring habits did not seem to be affected by their BMIs, whereas heavier men (those with high BMIs) poured 19% more than their average-BMI male counterparts.
Of course, alcohol multiplication tables (sadly) haven’t changed, and eight half-glasses of wine is still an entire bottle. It’s serving half-glasses, not drinking them, that’ll help you avoid a hangover: Just as portion control has been proven an effective strategy for losing weight (or simply not feeling too full), awareness of alcohol “portions” could be just as helpful in avoiding over-drinking and its attendant misery. In other words, while we wholeheartedly encourage you to take style cues from the Olivia Pope, copying her wine-bottle-to-the-face drinking habits is less advisable.
So, to help you drink the amount you want, leave your glass on the table while you pour, use a standard-sized version, and only fill it halfway — regardless of how many glasses you decide to drink. As for whether you should pick red or white wine, researchers postulate that red wine’s deep color makes it more obvious that you’ve got enough in your glass than when you’re drinking white — but we say to let your taste buds guide that particular choice. After all, rosé season isn’t over yet.
Have you seen this invasive Harlequin ladybird?
If you see one, snap a picture and send it to the Irish Wildlife Trust for their records.
It is trying to build up reliable records of this invasive species of ladybird and wants to know if you’ve seen any of them.
Since the beginning of this year, the IWT had been asking the general public to submit records of ladybirds and said it has been delighted with the enthusiasm. The trust had asked for reports of sightings of the Harlequin ladybird, which eats other ladybird’s eggs, in April.
However it continues to evade them and records have been inconclusive.
The Harlequin causes problems in the natural environment as it has a wide dietary range and outcompetes native ladybirds for their main prey.
Harlequins can reproduce up to three generations per year whilst most other native ladybird species will only reproduce once.
These are the two most common colours that have been recorded.
The Harlequin is larger than most of our native species at 5-8mm. The red and black form as shown can be seen by the black ‘M’ on its head plate. They can be found on a wide range of habitats and on a wide range of plants. The larvae, see above, are quite distinctive with shiny spines and an oblong orange colour on its back.
“It is especially important for us to learn of any records in Dublin, Galway, Limerick or Waterford,” the trust said today. They are asking that, if you spot one of these insects, that you take a photo for verification and upload it to biology.ie or send it to iwtladybirdsurvey@gmail.com.
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