• Defining unemployment • Types of unemployment • Unemployment in Ireland
• Groups at risk of unemployment • Causes of unemployment • Effects of unemployment
Defining unemployment Unemployment occurs when a person actively searching for employment is unable to find work. The term unemployed does not include people who make a voluntary decision to not work, e.g. a stay-at-home parent. The unemployment levels in a country reflect the state of the economy. When a country’s economy is strong, unemployment figures tend to be low. During times of economic downturn unemployment figure rise.
Types of unemployment HL Unemployment in Ireland
• During the 1980s unemployment rates reached an all-time high of 17.3% in 1985, due to an economic recession.
• Rapid economic growth between 1994 and 2007 reduced unemployment rates to a record low of 3.7% in 2001. This economic boom era became known as the Celtic Tiger.
• In 2008 Ireland’s economy started to decline again, causing unemployment to increase and reach 15% in 2012. This caused mass emigration,
Irish Unemployment Over Time
10 12 14 16 18
0 2 4 6 8
? Define unemployment. (6) OL/(2) HL
There are two main types of unemployment: • short-term unemployment: when a person is out of work for less than six months • long-term unemployment: when a person is out of work for longer than six months. If long-term unemployment is prevalent in a country it is an indication that the economy is in recession.
especially among construction workers and newly qualified graduates unable to get work.
• At present Ireland’s economy is showing signs of recovery, resulting in a reduction in unemployment. However, there is still a long way for Ireland’s recovery to go, as currently Ireland has: o an unemployment rate of approximately 8.5% o around 320,000 people currently on the live register.
? Comment on the extent of unemployment in Ireland today. (12) HL 526 Complete Home Economics
