Written answers

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Support Services

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being taken to address the serious shortage of labour in many sectors currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7028/22]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The period since early 2020 has been a difficult one for many businesses, and some sectors have been more severely impacted by public health restrictions and for a more prolonged period. Throughout the pandemic my Department and its enterprise agencies have engaged with and supported businesses within their remit, and from last year there has been a recovery in employment across the economy.

According to the latest available figures, employment increased by 221,300 in the year to the third quarter of 2021, a ten percent annual increase, with employment standing at 2.47 million. This employment recovery coincided with the easing of public health restrictions and the roll out of Ireland’s vaccination programmes, highlighting the importance of the Government’s efforts to assist workers and businesses, especially through those wage supports which helped businesses maintain a link to their staff.

In its ongoing engagement with enterprise, my Department and its agencies have nevertheless been made aware of labour shortages in certain sectors. My Department has worked to signpost businesses towards the training and labour market activation programmes and supports, available through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, its agencies, and the Department of Social Protection, in order to address their staffing needs.

Ireland’s economic migration policy also continues to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps in the short to medium term. My Department recently announced a series of changes to the permit system in light of identified gaps across the economy, and will continue to maintain a watching brief in order to address labour market needs as they emerge.

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