Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Were 58,000 new jobs created in Ireland in 2013?

The government says the Action Plan for Jobs is working and more than 50,000 jobs were created in 2013. This week we’ve looked at where this figure came from and how accurate it is.

WELCOME TO FACTCHECK.

In this series we aim to test the veracity of statements made by politicians and those in the public eye. The goal is purely unbiased, testing only the statements that become accepted as fact, not those that espouse them.

FactCheck is used whenever a statement is made that needs to be tested so as to better the national conversation. If, for example, a political leader said the world was flat, it wouldn’t do the country any good to blithely accept it as true.

Nor does it better our understanding to accept statements designed to obfuscate, to mislead or designed purely to gain political advantage.

That is not to say we will only seek to disprove statements. Every column is be looked at purely on fact.

The statements are awarded a score from 1-10 based on their merit, with 1 being outright false and 10 being 100 per cent verifiable fact.

Of course, some statements go beyond the first line and, where this is the case, we will endeavour to bring you the context of statements.

The Statement

58,000 new jobs were created in Ireland in 2013.

The Facts

Earlier this month, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said that the Action Plan for Jobs was working well and had created 58,000 jobs last year. Fine Gael also used the fact that “58,000 new jobs were created” as proof that the Five Point Plan is being followed, when we looked at it last week.

image

(Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

This figure was based on CSO data from the third Quarterly National Household Survey for 2013 which showed a total increase in employment of 58,000. This included an increase of 53,300 in full-time employment and 4,500 in part-time employment.

Recent announcements have also shown that there was a net increase of 5,442 people employed by firms supported by Enterprise Ireland and there were 7,071 additional people in employment in IDA Ireland client companies last year. We asked them both, just to make sure, that these were real jobs that had all been filled, rather than just announcements of new jobs and they assured us that they were.

Even when added together, these figures do not even come close to the 58,000 that has been thrown around, so how reliable is it as an indicator of job creation?

image

(Image: Shutterstock)

The fact is, there is no one out there counting exactly how many new jobs are being created each year, though this is something that would be possible if someone wanted to do it, the CSO told us.

However, Rory O’Farrell, a researcher with the think-tank NERI, said the figure of 58,000 is about as accurate as we can get and, in fact, it could skew results if the over number of jobs created was counted.

According to O’Farrell, this would result in higher numbers than the actual yearly increase in employment as workers in some sectors may finish and start multiple new contracts in one year and these would technically count as new jobs even though they were all for the same person.

So, while we can’t exactly say that 58,000 new jobs were created in 2013, 58,000 extra people were working, compared to the previous year.

Beyond the Facts

Nat O’Connor, Director of another think-tank, TASC, told TheJournal.ie that in order to really assess the situation with the jobs market, it’s not the overall figures we need to be looking at. The more important question here, according to O’Connor, is what kind of jobs are being created?

Data from the CSO shows a significant shift in employment across the different sectors between 2007 and 2013:

image

(Image: TASC) Click here if you have trouble viewing this image

This shows the huge loss of jobs in construction which is linked to the bust and also considerable growth in the health sector, linked to our growing ageing population. “While jobs in this sector are likely to continue as a growth area, the question is then is whether the new health jobs are good jobs or not,” O’Connor said.

Both O’Connor and Rory O’Farrell of NERI pointed out that there are two particular types of jobs that are dominating the labour market – high paying ‘good’ jobs, like managers and senior professionals, and low paying ‘poor’ jobs like bar workers.

image

(Image: TASC) Click here if you have trouble viewing this image

“The middle paying jobs are being hollowed out,” O’Farrell said. “During the boom, that was hidden, or masked, because the construction sector was made up of middle paying jobs. Since the recession, this mask has been removed and you can see more clearly this polarisation of the labour market”.

Middle paying jobs are those which involve simple instructions that can either be carried out by a machine or computer, or could be outsourced abroad, which is part of the problem with job creation in this area.

In these jobs, and in the lower paid jobs, both researchers said training is key, to allow workers to improve their skills and move up in their jobs or into different areas so that they don’t end up joining the dole queue.

“Good quality jobs are being created but the government is pursuing an export orientated strategy and those types of companies normally employ more highly educated, highly skilled people than the domestic economy,” O’Farrell said. “The point we’d make is we need both.”

Job creation vs job destruction

O’Connor said there is a need for serious discussion about job destruction alongside job creation.

“New supermarkets in towns are only ever reported to ‘create’ X jobs, which is usually low wage direct employment. Little mention is ever given to the fact that local shops may close as a result, with the loss not only of better paid jobs (eg craft butchers) but also the social fabric of town streets,” he explained.

You can’t stop progress” and maybe people all over Ireland are entitled to choose between the same wide variety of biscuits as the people in the big urban centres. But if we choose (with our individual purchasing decisions) to prefer shopping centres, online shopping, and whatever else, we can’t be surprised that our economy no longer provides traditional avenues for employment.

That may not be a bad thing in the long run, but the burning question is; what will the jobs of the future look like?

Getting the jobs

Creating the jobs is one thing, but actually getting them is another. Data from across Europe shows just how difficult it is for an unemployed person in Ireland to find a job, compared to other countries like the UK and Germany:

image

(Image: NERI) Click here if you have trouble viewing this image

O’Farrell said the biggest problem in the jobs market is basically that there is not enough of them.

There’s a lack of demand in the economy so it doesn’t matter how you incentive people to look for jobs. It’s not that people are too lazy to take up the jobs that are there, it’s obvious that there are plenty of people looking for work.

He said it was also a common misconception that younger unemployed people went straight onto the dole after finishing school or college because they are not bothered looking for jobs. “For those young people, who had their dole cut, the vast majority have worked at some point – more than 86 per cent of young people on the dole have worked in the past.”

image

(Image: Niall Carson/PA)

The researcher also describe schemes like JobBridge as a “quick fix” and a “cheap way to take a few thousand people off the live register”.

He suggested that the government would need to fund a serious investment programme focused on training people for jobs in the right kinds of areas in the economy but this would cost money and would likely mean asking our lenders to finance it. Ahem.

Rating

image

Have an idea for something we should be checking? Email paulhosford@TheJournal.ie or tips@TheJournal.ie.

Read: What ever happened to Fine Gael’s Five Point Plan?>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
76 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Hughes
    Favourite Gordon Hughes
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:04 AM

    Best way to dispose of a Christmas tree is to bring it out your back garden and launch it in your neighbours garden, then act like you know nothing about it if they say anything, this is also a green eco friendly way too as you don’t need to drive anywhere in your car …. Your welcome

    424
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal O'Hagan
    Favourite Fergal O'Hagan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:20 AM

    @Gordon Hughes: *YOU’RE

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Hughes
    Favourite Gordon Hughes
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:16 AM

    @Fergal O’Hagan: you’re boring…. See I learn quickly

    141
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal O'Hagan
    Favourite Fergal O'Hagan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Gordon Hughes: you are welcome!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Hughes
    Favourite Gordon Hughes
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 4:50 PM

    @Fergal O’Hagan: you are still drab.. I’m flying now

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Ryan
    Favourite Sean Ryan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:29 AM

    My local secondary school offers collection and disposal for €10. The boys collect it and the profit goes towards the school football club.

    158
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Alford
    Favourite Jane Alford
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:31 AM

    @Sean Ryan: Best to let it completely dry out first…

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vladimir Macro
    Favourite Vladimir Macro
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:37 AM

    @Sean Ryan: scandalous

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wheresmyjumper
    Favourite Wheresmyjumper
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:17 AM

    I’m throwing mine over the back wall and letting nature take care of it, it’s a tree i reckon driving it to the council drop off would have more of a negative impact on the environment

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Hughes
    Favourite Gordon Hughes
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:21 AM

    @Wheresmyjumper: I said that already

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim McCormack29
    Favourite Tim McCormack29
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 8:06 AM

    I am going cut it up and burn it in my stove..

    231
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute dublindamo
    Favourite dublindamo
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:32 AM

    @Tim McCormack29: didn’t think this type of green tree was good for a stove

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gussy Hughes
    Favourite Gussy Hughes
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:03 AM

    @dublindamo: Ah damo, it’s only once a year. Everything in moderation!

    83
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Whoswho
    Favourite Whoswho
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 3:26 PM

    @Gussy Hughes: Who answers all these polls? Get a life!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Doherty
    Favourite Brendan Doherty
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:08 AM

    Mine is recycled in the attic ready for next year no harm to the environment at all

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Louise Ryan
    Favourite Marie Louise Ryan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Brendan Doherty: only its made of plastic

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris lynch
    Favourite Chris lynch
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:47 AM

    @Marie Louise Ryan: a plastic one is environmentally neutral if you keep it for about 10 years. Wasn’t there an article here about that recently?

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Curran
    Favourite Colm Curran
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:52 AM

    I’ll treecycle mine I’ll get my coat

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:40 AM

    My Goats are loving it they will be munching for days

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aonghus OReilly
    Favourite Aonghus OReilly
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:47 AM

    @Shane Freeney: You said goatmunching.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eugene Comaskey
    Favourite Eugene Comaskey
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:29 AM

    Trees melt away after they are felled if left alone , just throw it at the back of the ditch.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Mc Meel
    Favourite Liam Mc Meel
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 8:07 AM

    No

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Misty Eyed Mutton
    Favourite Misty Eyed Mutton
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 4:09 PM

    One of my footmen is towing the 60 footer as I type.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Datalore
    Favourite Datalore
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:54 PM

    Bound mine in a few black refuse sacks and brought it to Corkagh Park. Looks like a body bag

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Mc Donald
    Favourite Anthony Mc Donald
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 3:50 PM

    I don’t buy fresh Xmas trees have my personal reasons as in environmentally

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Morning Gus
    Favourite Morning Gus
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:15 PM

    Why do you want to know this?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garykelly
    Favourite Garykelly
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 10:25 PM

    Yeah we heard you the first time chief

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory M
    Favourite Rory M
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:56 AM

    There is lots of drop of points for old real xmas trees and its usually designated to the corner of a field The Council , corporation , fingal etc all are involved and the shredded trees get re used in the gardening sector , so it makes sense to look up your local authority NO MATTER whether your on Southside, Northside or any part of dublin .
    USE AND RECYCLE

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Datalore
    Favourite Datalore
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:54 PM

    Bound mine in a few black refuse sacks and brought it to Corkagh Park. Looks like a body bag

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Datalore
    Favourite Datalore
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 9:54 PM

    Bound mine in a few black refuse sacks and brought it to Corkagh Park

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Morning Gus
    Favourite Morning Gus
    Report
    Jan 5th 2020, 11:07 PM

    @Datalore: Come again!!!

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds