Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new jobs created during the years 1999 to 2005 and comparison figures for the years 1979 to 1985; the biggest area of growth in jobs; and the area's identified for further potential. [38078/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The tabular statement shows the number of new full time jobs created in enterprise agency assisted companies by broad economic sector over the period 1999 to 2005, as well as the number of job losses (full time) over the same period. In addition the statement also shows the most recent CSO data showing total numbers in employment at Quarter 2 of each year by sector. Comparable data for the period 1979-1985 is not available.

In terms of the wider economy, the CSO data indicates that there are an additional 428,000 people in employment at quarter 2 2006 compared with the same quarter in 1999. The major increase in jobs growth over the period has occurred in the Services sector. In this Ireland follows the trend of the employment growth in services evident across most developed countries. An additional 120,000 or so are employed in Construction Industry while the numbers employed in Financial and Other Business Services has increased by 78,000. Irish employment growth in services outperforms that of most competitor countries and indeed this country has become one of the leading world exporters of services.

Over the same period approximately 127,000 jobs have been created in manufacturing by agency-assisted firms. While some 140,000 jobs were lost in the sector over the same period, it should be noted that many of these losses were in areas of low cost manufacturing. The new jobs created in the enterprise development agencies' client companies in the last number of years are mainly concentrated in high-value added, knowledge-based companies, which offer greater security in the face of intense international competition.

Ireland no longer operates as a low cost location for investment: our strengths and competitive advantages have changed. Our economy is now characterised by high output and productivity, together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards.

Our priority remains the creation of high quality, sustainable employment, driven by companies with higher profitability, that are more technologically advanced and prove a better fit with the competitive characteristics of our economy, and that are consequently less likely to move on the basis of simple cost influences. In that regard, we are making significant efforts to enhance our framework competitive conditions, and to promote new areas of competitive advantage, such as developing our R&D base as elaborated recently in the new Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. We are also continuing to pursue policies to promote lifelong learning and upskilling to improve labour market flexibility and, where necessary, ensure that appropriate training supports are provided for workers in sectors that are no longer competitive, to help them upskill and if necessary find alternative employment.