The number of people employed in Ireland declined by 8.2 per cent in the year to the end of June, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
There were 1,938,500 persons in employment in the second quarter of 2009, an annual decrease of 174,300.
This compares with an annual decrease in employment of 7.5 per cent in the first quarter and a decline of 0.1 per cent in the year to the second quarter of 2008.
Over the year the number of men in employment fell by 11.6 per cent or 138,200 while the number of women in work declined by 3.9 per cent or 36,200.
The overall employment rate among persons aged 15 to 64 fell by 5.6 percentage points to 62.5 per cent in the year, down from 68.1 per cent a year earlier. Employment rates fell across all age groups but were particularly pronounced in the 20 to 24 age group, which showed an 11.5 per cent over the year to the end of June.
The number of non-nationals in work fell by almost 10 per cent over the year.
According to the latest data, the total number of people in the labour force in the second quarter of 2009 was 2,203,100, down 1.6 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
During the quarter the number of people unemployed rose to almost 265,000.
Not surprisingly, the largest decline in employment was in the construction sector where the number of people employed fell by 86,000 or 35.6 per cent over the year.
There were approximately 86,900 males and 77,700 females out of work during the second quarter of 2009, bringing the total number of unemployed up to 264,600, a rise of 108.8 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
The number of unemployed males rose 102,700 or 122 per cent over the year while female unemployment increased by 35,100 or 82.4 per cent.
On a seasonally adjusted basis the number of persons unemployed increased by 35,200 between the first and second quarters of 2009.
Alan McQuaid, chieft economist at Bloxhams stockbrokers said the latest Quarterly Household Survey data makes ‘bleak reading.’ He said the figures contained in the report offer a truer picture of what is going on in the labour market than the monthly Live Register
“These latest figures are a stark reminder of the hardship and pain many private-sector workers have endured over the past twelve months, and things are going to get worse before they get better,” said Mr McQuaid.
Nonetheless, he added that while umemployment will continue to rise over the next year, the likelihood is that the rate of increase in the numbers out of work will start to moderate over the coming quarters.
“We see the jobless rate running at around 13.2 per cent at year-end, with the average rate for the year as a whole coming in at 11.8 per cent as against just under 6.5 per cent in 2008. On an assumption of a recovery in the global economy, we now see the Irish jobless rate peaking at 15 per cent or just below in 2010,” he added.
Responding to the figures, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (Isme) said urgent Government action was needed to stop job losses and called for an immediate business-support programme. Business group Ibec also called for further labour market supports.
