Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The latest quarterly national household survey, published by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, on 15 September, shows that 1,823,200 people were in employment at the end of the fourth quarter 2010. At the end of the first quarter of 2011, 1,804,200 people were in employment. At the end of the second quarter of 2011, the numbers in employment had increased to 1,821,300. This increase of 17,100 is the first increase of significant scale. It is influenced by seasonal factors. However, even on a seasonal basis it represents an increase in private sector employment for the first time since the recession started.

Data on emigration is available from the CSO only on an annual basis. Net emigration in the year to April 2011 was 34,100, similar to the level in 2010. However, gross emigration in the year to 2011 was 76,400, an increase of almost 11,000 on the previous 12 months. Almost half of these were non-Irish nationals, reflecting the diversity of our population and labour force in recent years.

Net migration has always been a characteristic of Ireland's labour force. Movements reflect the state of the Irish labour market and the availability of job opportunities. The past three years have seen a major loss of employment which has been reflected in rising outflows and falling inward movements.

The slowdown and reversal of the employment trends in the course of 2011 is encouraging. However, the recovery is fragile. This is why the Government has set economic recovery and job creation at the heart of its work programme. This drives the work of my Department and other key Departments, as we seek to provide a better future for our young people and our society.

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