Employment levels mask graduates' difficulties in job market

8.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th May 2007

Alliance Party youth affairs spokesperson Ian James Parsley

Alliance Party youth affairs spokesperson Ian James Parsley has cautioned that so-called "record employment figures" in Northern Ireland mask the huge difficulties faced by graduates entering the job market here.

The North Down Councillor stated: "Employment is described as being at 'record levels', yet in fact the number of people in work in Northern Ireland is significantly lower than it should be in times of so-called 'full employment'.

"Statistics indicate that 776,000 people are in work here, yet in the Republic this figure is over 2 million. Proportionately, we have fallen a long way behind because so many people are 'economically inactive'.

"Among those finding it hard to come by appropriately challenging careers here are graduates, with another batch due to enter the job market this summer. We continue to fail to match our training with the skills actually required in the modern workplace. This year, as every year, we will be left with far too many graduates in some disciplines, and skills shortages in others.

"The Executive has until 2011 to put this right. We need to match the services offered by our further education institutions and universities with the skills required by businesses offering high-wage, challenging careers right here at home. That means not only training in industries

such as biotechnology where skills are lacking, but also in disciplines such as management so that we can become a world-leader in cost-effective and efficient ways of doing business.

"We must not allow talk of 'record levels' or 'full employment' mask the very real challenges ahead of this Executive. If the Republic can find work for 2 million people, we should be able to put nearly one million people into employment in Northern Ireland. The Executive must be judged on its ability to deliver that."

ENDS