Jobs advertised online up 24pc, manufacturing sector seeing significant growth (infographic)

22 Jan 2013

The IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index for Q4 2012 finds that jobs advertised online in 2012 saw a year-on-year increase of 24pc and significant growth in sectors such as manufacturing and production provide a positive outlook, despite reports today indicating that global unemployment will continue to rise.

The Jobs Index measures all corporate jobs advertised on IrishJobs.ie and Jobs.ie in 2012. On a quarterly basis, Q4 2012 saw a decrease, but this is typical of end-of-year figures.

“While total jobs advertised are down by 10pc relative to the last quarter, some sectors are experiencing solid year-on-year gains,” explained University of Limerick economics lecturer and author of the report Dr Stephen Kinsella. “Sector-wise, the big story is in manufacturing and production, where we are seeing a renaissance in manufacturing activity, the only success story for this sector in the Eurozone.”

The growth in manufacturing and production (up 96pc) is attributed to the number of export-led multinationals located throughout Ireland. The environmental and health and safety sector is also thriving, seeing an increase of 133pc.

Other industries continue to struggle, though, with publishing down 28pc and construction still in decline based on the full-year figures. However, this sector increased in the fourth quarter of 2012 for the first time since the index began in Q2 2009.

“The Irish economy is growing again, when we account for the presence of large multinational companies. However, the domestic picture looks rather different,” said Kinsella. “Final domestic demand for goods and services is still down more than 25pc from the peak of the housing bubble. There was a slight increase in Q3 2012 but clearly this hasn’t contributed to increasing employers’ expectations of a recovery.”

Meanwhile, an International Labour Organisation report has revealed that global unemployment grew by 4m in 2012 to 197m and warns this trend will continue while economies continue to find their feet once again. An increase of 5.1m is predicted for this year, reaching 6.01pc, and further 3m is expected in 2014.

IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index Q4 2012

Elaine Burke
By Elaine Burke

Elaine Burke was editor of Silicon Republic until 2023, and is now the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. Elaine joined Silicon Republic in 2011 as a journalist covering gadgets, new media and tech jobs. She later served as managing editor before stepping up as editor in 2019. She comes from a background in publishing and is known for being particularly pernickety when it comes to spelling and grammar – earning her the nickname, Critical Red Pen.

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