The number of under 25’s on the Live Register in County Cork has declined by 79% since early 2012, figures welcomed by North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea. Across all age groups, Live Register figures are down in County Cork by 27,313 (62%) between early 2012, when the government launched its first Action Plan for Jobs, and early 2019.
Cllr. O’Shea also welcomed specific figures for Mallow and Newmarket, which show a 60.3% (-1,667) and 59.7% (-1,070) decrease in that period. Across the county, there were 23,902 Enterprise Ireland supported jobs in 2018, up 47% since 2011. The total jobs in IDA Ireland client companies in 2018 was 38,867, up 55% to 2011.
Commenting on the figures, Cllr. O’Shea said: “These figures highlight that the government’s Action Plan for Jobs programmes have worked, both here in County Cork and right across the country. It is easy to forget just how difficult a position Ireland was in when this government came to power following the 2011 general election.
“The figures show exactly the pace of progress that has been made in recent years. Both Cork and Ireland are in a much better place economically today. There is still work to do and this government, with its track record, is committed to stimulating more jobs growth. Unemployment nationally is around the 5% mark and it is continuing to fall. It is particularly encouraging to see that youth unemployment has fallen in County Cork by such an extent, 79%,” he said.
