Unemployment has dropped to 9.8%, the lowest we have seen for six years. Job creation is well ahead of schedule as we look towards the aim of full employment in 2018.

The latest official employment figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 104,600 extra jobs have been created since the start of 2012. The original aim was to generate 100,000 by the end of 2016, as a result of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs we are a year ahead of this target. Unemployment was due to drop below 10% in 2017, we are 2 years ahead of this plan. Full employment was anticipated by 2020 – this is now looking likely for 2018.

This is a significant milestone which shows the progress the country has made in a relatively  short period of time. We are heading in the right direction.