Minister Noonan welcomes CSO figures which show 72,000 full-time jobs added in the final quarter of 2016

• Employment volumes have risen by 65,100 (3.3%) in the year to the fourth quarter of 2016, the 17th successive quarter of annual employment growth.

• The level of employment is now at its highest since 2008. All of the employment growth in the final quarter of last year was due to increases in full-time employment – another positive development.

• Employment growth remains broadly based, with increases recorded in all 14 sectors measured by the CSO. 

Today’s (21^st February) data published by the CSO in the Quarterly National Household Survey show that employment has increased at an annual rate of 65,000 in the final quarter of last year.  Reacting to these positive employment figures, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. stated:

“I warmly welcome the very strong employment growth that was recorded in the final quarter of last year.  Overall employment increases of 65,000 (3.3 per cent) are a clear sign that our economy is performing very well and generating jobs-rich growth. I particularly welcome the increase in full-time employment with 72,000 full-time jobs created year-on-year to the last quarter of 2016.  It is very encouraging that all sectors of the economy are generating employment.  I also note that the level of employment is now over 200,000 higher than when the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012.”

“In parallel with the employment growth, unemployment continues to fall and we now have net inward migration.”

“Our task in the months and years ahead is to build upon the recovery, to generate more jobs and reduce unemployment further.  That is what the Government is doing.”