SLMRU published their latest skills bulletin this morning that looks at the profile of persons who are potentially available to meet Ireland’s labour market needs – see link below:
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irish labour market has experienced a remarkable recovery,
with 2022 seeing a record number of people employed in Ireland1. We have moved from an economy that
experienced large scale unemployment as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to one which
exhibits labour market tightness and a shortage of available skills in certain sectors2. Despite numerous
challenges currently facing the economy, finding candidates to fill demand in certain roles remains a significant
challenge. This presents an opportune time to examine cohorts of the adult population, both within and outside
the traditional labour force, that may be available to respond to this high labour demand. The Bulletin examines
three cohorts that may fulfil this role, and describes their socio-demographic, educational and employment
characteristics. The three cohorts of interest are part-time workers who have indicated that they are seeking
additional hours of employment (classified as underemployed), unemployed persons and those who, although
outside the active labour market, are closely aligned to it by virtue of having self-reported as either seeking
work or being available for work (but not both). Combined these three cohorts are known as labour market
slack. Eurostat defines labour market slack as the total sum of all unmet need for employment3. When labour
market slack falls, the labour market becomes ‘tight’ and employers are required to increasingly compete for
workers.
https://www.solas.ie/f/70398/x/9fe062043c/autumn-winter-skills-bulletin.pdf