The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (June 5) that the current rate of job creation was far too slow to make 'significant inroads" into, or end the ongoing jobs crisis.
Congress Assistant General Secretary, Sally Anne Kinahan said: "We are creating too few jobs at too slow a pace to make significant inroads into the crisis. Almost half of those currently out of work – almost 200,000 people - have been unemployed for over a year and now risk becoming totally detached from the labour market.
'the Government needs to push Europe to meet commitments already made and provide the funding previously committed for the Youth Guarantee," Ms Kinahan said.
"Funding also needs to be made available to address the particular problem of long term unemployment among older workers in Ireland.
"Long term unemployment requires a response at a scale and with a sense of resolve not seen to date. Meaningful training opportunities, skills development and further education have to be provided to help those out of work, particularly former construction and manufacturing workers, obtain jobs in the future.
"With 7,000 people joining the Live Register every week, we need action here in Ireland and across Europe, in the form of an investment programme that will reflate the economy, create jobs and get people back to work.
"Earlier today we saw the ECB forced to take drastic action to combat the deflationary spectre that threatens Europe.
"Reflating the Eurozone economy through stimulus and investment remains the surest way to do this," she concluded.
