In a previous Census 11 blog, I noted that the unemployment situation was dire and very prevalent in specific groups, notably younger males in manual or skilled manual jobs with a non-Irish nationality. Since then, the unemployed count has dropped by 124k and 200k more people are at work. Of the 124k reduction – 103k were male, probably due to a combination of emigration and the improved domestic economy. Interestingly, only 12k of the increase in workers are in building and construction, so this sector hasn’t been the significant contributor to the improvement.
We should also note that much higher relative unemployment rates persist in younger male cohorts, if less pronounced than in 2011. I would have expected to see a reduction in the number of Non-Irish in the labour force (due to the collapse of the construction industry) but it has increased suggesting perhaps a successful reallocation for the resident Non-Irish population.
2. The Wise Shall Inherit the Earth