Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Jobs has surpassed its employment target – Neville

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Tom Neville, has said that Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Jobs has surpassed its employment targets ensuring that employment is now at its highest level since the economic crash in 2008.

“Figures released by the CSO today show employment is now at its highest level since the economic crash.

“The number of people in employment is now 206,000 higher than when Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012. Our original goal in the Action Plan for Jobs was to add 100,000 jobs by the end of 2016 so we have more than surpassed that target.

“Statistics can seem meaningless but this has a real impact on communities all around the country. Only a strong economy supporting people at work can provide the services needed to improve people’s lives.

“The Action Plan for Jobs has a targeted approach to increasing employment in all regions of the country and in all sectors of the economy. This targeted approach is working.

“The statistics released today show that 65,000 jobs were added to the economy, year on year to Q4 of 2016, all of them full time.

“It’s also good to see that the employment growth is broadly based. All 14 employment sectors measured by the CSO are showing increases.

“With employment growing in all regions, the impact on the lives of people is significant. Getting a job after a period of unemployment can boost a person’s confidence and self-belief.

“It is also great news for communities across the county, as every job created has a positive knock on effect for local businesses and services.”