Minister Kitt Presents Human Resources Investment Awards Jobs Ireland Christmas Campaign Launched

Tom Kitt, Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs today (Monday 20th December 1999) presented Excellence Through People awards to 17 companies who have achieved the standard.

Speaking at the presentation of the Awards in the Stakis Hotel, Dublin, Minister Kitt referred to the importance of Human Resource Investment. "It is very clear that firms which are productive and committed in their human resource development gain a competitive edge," he said.

Minister Kitt also announced details for the FAS Jobs Ireland campaign which began in September. "This campaign is aimed at attracting foreign-based workers, both Irish and other EU nationals, to take up jobs in the booming Irish economy. As part of the campaign FAS is conducting a major advertising programme this Christmas targeted at Irish emigrants who are spending the holiday at home," Minister Kitt said.

"Since 1993 Ireland has had the most successful job creation record of any developed country and the number of people at work has increased by an incredible 486,000 to 1,669,000.

In 1999, unemployment fell below 100,000 for the first time since 1980. This decline in unemployment rate indicates a further significant tightening of labour market conditions."

Some of the increased demand for labour has been met by people coming to work in Ireland from abroad. The traditional pattern of emigration from Ireland has been reversed with immigration to Ireland running at over 45,000 people a year.

Since the start of the campaign the response from those contemplating taking up employment in this country has been phenomenal. There have been 300,000 "hits" on the Jobs Ireland website, which has not been advertised in Ireland up to now, making it one of the most popular Irish websites. More than 2,000 people interested in working in Ireland have registered with the site which is constantly being developed and updated. FAS is expecting approximately one million "hits" on the website over a 12-month period," Minister Kitt concluded.