Over 22,000 unemployed in midlands

There were on average 22,300 unemployed people in the four Midland counties of Westmeath, Offaly, Laois and Longford during the second quarter of the year, new official figures have confirmed. The CSO quarterly national household survey figures released last week show the region's unemployment rate is now 17.9 percent compared with 16.8 percent in the same quarter of last year. This is the second highest unemployment rate in the State after the South East at 17.8 percent. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 14.7 percent in the period April to June 2012. However, the unemployment rate in the midlands is slightly down from the 18.1 percent recorded in the first three months of this year. Unlike live register figures, which can include people on part-time jobs, the quarterly national household survey figures are seek as the official unemployment statistics. ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, responding to the unemployment statistics, called on the government to rethink its "non-performing" jobs strategy. The association described the current unemployment situation as 'intolerable' as the level of long term and youth unemployment, together with the emigration of young people continued unabated. The latest figures confirmed that there are 308,500 people unemployed, an annual increase of 4,000. The long term unemployed accounts for a disturbing 60% of the total. According to ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding: "Small businesses, the main employment creators, will not create new jobs while they continue to suffer increasing state enforced costs, lack of bank credit and competition from both the black economy and the social welfare system. It is high time that an effective employment policy was introduced that goes beyond the mere introduction of FAS training places, and targets instead the core issues preventing employment creation".