THE number of people signing on the live register in Limerick city and county rose by almost 1,000 last month, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.
This contrasts sharply with the situation nationally where there was a drop of 4,400 people signing on.
In May of this year, 12,006 people signed on in Limerick city, while 16,724 signed on in the county.
In June however, this jumped to 12,427 in the city and 17,240 in the county.
In Kilmallock, 35 more people joined the live register in June, bringing the total figure to 2,200, while 60 extra people signed on in Newcastle West last month, bringing the total number to 2,613.
CSO census data from 2011 released last month revealed that Limerick city had an unemployment rate of 27.8 per cent at the time – the highest in the State – while male unemployment in the city stood at 32 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins said that the Government has created “a two-tiered economic recovery”.
“The greater Dublin area is recovering while the regions elsewhere are still relatively flat and experiencing recessionary conditions. The Government must focus on job creation in Limerick and the Mid West as a matter of priority. It’s very disappointing to see the latest figures for Limerick and meet with these people as I do in my advice clinics.
“Turning jobs announcements into real positions with a weekly wage is the challenge for Government. So let’s have less of the PR and spin”, he said.
