CSO figures released this morning (January 5) reveal that the Monthly Unemployment rate stalled at 8.8% from November to December in 2015, meaning that by the end of last year, the number of unemployed people in Ireland was 190,600.
The Small Firms Association (SFA) has expressed concerns over the rate of unemployment, saying that rising labour costs and threatened regulation is dampening job creation in Ireland.
SFA Director, Patricia Callan commented, “Many small businesses are postponing job creation plans due to the unjustified 6% rise in the National Minimum Wage from the first of January, and ongoing threats from the Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash, to legislate against flexible working practices.
“It is unacceptable that 190,600 people are still unemployed in our country.”
She called on the Government to create an environment that supports small businesses instead of burdening them with “unsustainable” wage demands and increased regulations, noting that, “Small businesses can create 30,000 new jobs this year, but only if it remains competitive to do so.”
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
