Ahead of the budget I’m throwing out a few facts and figures about where the economy is now and where Budget 2015 needs to take it. This is a look at long term unemployment and gender since 2007.
The above graph shows the growth in long-term unemployment and how this breaks down amongst men and women; the rise in long-term unemployment affected men and women differently.
More men are caught in long- term unemployment, but this number is decreasing at a greater pace than it is for women. From 2008 to 2012, a large amount of men lost their jobs in industries like construction and found it difficult to get back into employment. Since then, thankfully, many have re-skilled or their professions have recovered enough for them to go back to work.
Fewer women became unemployed for a year or longer . But those who did are not returning to work at the same pace as men. Since 2011, their level of long term unemployment has stayed relatively flat. So why are women not returning to work?
One issue is the high cost that Irish families are paying for childcare. Since 2007, the supplements that supported our full employment have been eroded and crèche fees have increased. Many woman who would love to return to work cannot as they would have to pay for the privilege. To get women back into the workplace, Budget 2015 needs to address these costs.