Despite the economic downturn and unemployment increasing to 4.4% last year, the number of applications for work permits has continued to climb. Traditionally, Ireland has been a country of net emigration. However, increased prosperity resulted in the number of applicants under the work permit scheme growing from 3,617 in 1994 to 40,321 last year. Over 40% of the permits granted last year involved jobs in low-skill areas such as farming, construction and catering. It is almost certain that the labour market will continue to require immigrant workers to supplement the domestic labour pool. However, it is essential to include the safeguard in the Employment Permits Bill 2003 permitting the reintroduction of the requirements for permits for workers from newly acceded EU countries if the labour market was to suffer a disturbance after enlargement.