Minister Kitt Launches Jobs Club and Employment Survey for Portlaoise"With Live Register at 3.8%, the real work starts now for our marginalised"Job Clubs Facilitate a New Pathway Back To Work - Kitt

Speaking today (Tuesday 31st October, 2000) at the launch of the Portlaoise Jobs Club in Dunmaise Theatre, Minister for Labour Affairs, Tom Kitt T.D., said "while the live register at a national level has dropped to 3.8%, it is now the real work starts in helping those who still feel marginalised, unsure of their future and have difficulty in securing employment. Often a top-up of training or additional training to bring skills to an acceptable level could improve someones chances of gaining employment and the staff at the Jobs Club can direct those who need such training, with the help of FAS or ADM (Area Development Management) funding, or an intervention by the Department of Social Community & Family Affairs."

Minister Kitt said "The Jobs Club is part one of such actions and I believe that these Clubs have established a flexible approach to those who need their services. I am confident that they will grow and leave a lasting impact on all they serve. As an ADM funded group, they operate on a partnership basis with all other agencies and will continue to provide services such as this Jobs Club for those who need it most."

"The Portlaoise Community Action Programme (PCAP) have an impressive record in working with all the state agencies. Through ADM funded action they can access funding from other state bodies to provide the necessary programmes for those in their Community." Minister Kitt acknowledged the PCAP’s commitment to deliver successful programmes to the economically marginalised and to the unemployed in Portlaoise.

It has been the experience of most Job Clubs that a dramatic change takes place in the lives of members who avail of their services and find a new pathway back to work. Many of the members resolve job-seeking problems that were perceived prior to participation as insurmountable. They become proactive in seeking employment and not alone do they obtain jobs but they stay on and secure their future. "The method and style of delivery of this intervention is undoubtedly one of the most important characteristics of the Jobs Club," said Minister Kitt.Commenting on the Employment Survey, Minister Kitt said "One of the most interesting findings from the survey is the extent to which employers addressed the skill shortages by mainly providing in-house training to their newly recruited staff. The survey highlights the shortage of available labour, in particular in the retail, construction and catering areas. It is very clear from its findings that job-seekers from disadvantaged areas are generally welcomed by employers."

"The Survey makes a series of recommendations and the main one ties well in with the provision of a Jobs Club, with C.V. preparation, the identification of training for their clients and job referral. There should also be an increased awareness of the various employment incentives provided by state agencies," added Minister Kitt.

In 1999 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment gave formal approval to FAS to fund the expansion of Jobs Clubs nation-wide. This expansion followed the successful pilot of Jobs Clubs, which proved a positive response to the needs of the long-term unemployed in seeking either access back to employment directly or by means of a top-up training programme. All Job Clubs conform to the same objective ie. to take a structured approach to the identification and the filling of vacancies to enable the members of the Job Clubs who are ready for employment to secure the best possible job in the shortest possible time. Those who wish to avail of this service do so on a voluntary basis and this approach makes it a most successful intervention.

FAS has provided a model and the funding for the delivery of such a service and this model can be adopted to suit local circumstances and the social and economic environment. The Job Clubs operate on a twin track system i.e. group sessions or, alternatively, what is normally called a "one to one" system. Each member can elect to participate on either system or change from one to another where they feel most comfortable. Either way, they are helped to develop their job- seeking skills and to understand the world of work today. Much work on career and job planning and targeting jobs is completed at all sessions with the main objective of preparing Jobs Club members for their forthcoming interviews where they show a genuine interest in finding work.