Midlands unemployment rate second worst in country

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) last Thursday have shown that 20,000 people are unemployed in the midlands. These figures bring the region's unemployment rate to 16.4 percent. The statistics, which relate to the first quarter of the year, also show a worrying increase compared to figures of 15.9 percent unemployment from the fourth quarter of last year. It also shows up the midlands as having the second highest unemployment rate in the state after the south east. Speaking on the issue IBEC regional director Gary O'Mahony said that though job losses are stabilising, getting people back to work remains a massive task. "Long term unemployment is becoming a serious problem," he said. "Every Government decision must be informed by the need to get people back to work. The focus should be on providing those that have lost their job with the right skills to take up new jobs when they arise. A particular focus is needed on lower level skilled workers, who have been the most severely affected by the recession. It is crucial that we avoid a prolonged period of structural unemployment." "The Government must ensure that structural unemployment does not become entrenched in the economy. Ambitious reform of labour market activation and retraining services is needed to ensure that those who have lost jobs get the skills to take up new work when the economy picks up."