Irish and non-Irish in the Workforce

Questions asked in the Dáil by Ciarán - Other

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15 February 2006

Taoiseach

Irish and non-Irish in the Workforce

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Taoiseach the most recent breakdown for the numbers of the workforce who are Irish, from the most recent accession states to the European Union, from elsewhere within the European Economic Area and elsewhere.

The Taoiseach: The information requested is provided in the tables outlined below. The figures, which are produced by the quarterly national household survey, are considered ‘tentative’ as the very large migration flows in recent years present a significant measurement challenge in a general purpose household survey such as the QNHS. The main concerns, which are based on international experience, centre around the extent to which the survey captures minority communities in a proportionate and representative manner. Notwithstanding these concerns, the CSO believes that the estimates presented in the following tables provide a broadly accurate picture of the current situation and recent trends. The figures are subject to review in the light of the results of the 2006 census of population.

Data, on the same basis as that provided in the table below, will be updated tomorrow, 16 February, in the quarterly national household survey release to reflect the position as per the fourth quarter, September-November 2005.

Persons aged 15 years and over classified by nationality and ILO Economic Status

Q3 2005

Nationality In employment Unemployed Labour Force Not economically active Total

thousands

Irish 1,830.6 86.0 1,916.6 1,153.9 3,070.5

Foreign nationals 159.3 10.7 170.0 61.2 231.0

of which:

United Kingdom 40.5 2.8 43.3 24.6 67.8

EU15 excl. Irl. & UK 21.4 1.1 22.5 4.7 27.3

Accession states EU15 to EU25 53.2 3.4 56.6 5.8 62.3

Other 44.2 3.4 47.6 26.1 73.6

All persons 15 years and over 1,989.8 96.7 2,086.5 1,215.1 3,301.6

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office

Data may be subject to future revision

Date may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q3=June to August

Notes:

1. The QNHS sample is not designed to provide detailed nationality estimates and therefore caution should be used when interpreting the data

2. The figures should be regarded as indicative of broad orders of magnitude rather than definitive

3. All estimates are provisional subject to the Census 2006 results.

Persons aged 15 years and over classified by nationality and ILO Economic Status

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office

Data may be subject to future revision

Date may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q3=June to August

Notes:

1. The QNHS sample is not designed to provide detailed nationality estimates and therefore caution should be used when interpreting the data

2. The figures should be regarded as indicative of broad orders of magnitude rather than definitive

3. All estimates are provisional subject to the Census 2006 results.

Estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by nationality — QNHS, q1 2004 to q22005

Nationality q1 2004 q2 2004 q3 2004 q4 2004 q1 2005 q2 2005 q3 2005

thousands

Irish 1,723.2 1,722.0 1,779.1 1,766.4 1,771.8 1,779.0 1,830.6

Foreign nationals 112.7 114.1 114.4 127.8 136.5 150.3 159.3

of which:

United Kingdom 40.5 39.9 34.8 34.3 37.6 37.5 40.5

EU15 excl. Irl. & UK 20.5 23.0 19.4 20.9 22.7 20.9 21.4

Other European 15.8 16.2 25.4 35.0 42.2 54.8 60.2

of which Accession states EU-15 to EU-25 * * 19.5 28.1 34.9 47.3 53.2

Other 35.9 35.0 34.8 37.6 34.0 37.1 37.2

Total 1,835.9 1,836.1 1,893.5 1,894.2 1,908.3 1,929.3 1,989.9

*The measurement for the Accession states did not commence until q3 2004.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=December to February, q2=March to May, q3=June to August and q4=September to November.

Note:

1. The QNHS sample is not designed to provide detailed nationality estimates and therefore caution should be used when interpreting the data

2. The figures should be regarded as indicative of broad orders of magnitude rather than definitive

3. All estimates are provisional subject to the Census 2006 results.

Estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by nationality — QNHS, q1 2004 to q22005

*The measurement for the Accession states did not commence until q3 2004.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=December to February, q2=March to May, q3=June to August and q4=September to November.

Note:

1. The QNHS sample is not designed to provide detailed nationality estimates and therefore caution should be used when interpreting the data

2. The figures should be regarded as indicative of broad orders of magnitude rather than definitive

3. All estimates are provisional subject to the Census 2006 results.

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com