Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary has welcomed new Central Statistics Office figures that show that the rate of employment has hit a new record high.
The Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of the year shows that the estimated employment rate for people aged 15-64 years was 75.3% - the highest rate recorded since the series began in 1998.
The estimated number of people in employment in the third quarter of 2024 stood at 2,794,800, up 3.7% compared with a year ago.
The 3.7% increase in the number of people in employment in the 12 months to Q3 2024 was equivalent to 98,600 more people working than a year earlier.
Minister Calleary commented: “These are remarkable figures and are testament to the extraordinary post Covid economic recovery that Ireland has experienced.
“It is important to stress that this recovery has not happened by accident. This is the result of policy that is focused on and supportive of the enterprise model that has been so successful for Ireland.
“Fianna Fáil is committed to supporting and enhancing that model in the years ahead. However there have to be concerns that a change of political direction for the country could jeopardise the remarkable progress we have made.
“Some opposition parties seem to regard enterprise as an opportunity to increase the tax burden with pledges to increase employers’ PRSI. Also they seem to think that it’s possible to load an extra €3.5 billion in taxes without any adverse economic effect.
“For our part, Fianna Fáil will continue to support enterprise and work to maintain full employment in our economy.”
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