41,000 have found full time jobs while engaged with the JobPath service

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD today announced that 41,000 individuals have found full time jobs while engaged with the JobPath service – with a further 5,000 finding part time jobs – and the initiative has contributed to the significant progress made by the Government in reducing unemployment from a peak of 16% in 2012 to 5.3% in December 2018.

By the end of January 2019, over 206,000 long-term unemployed people have been referred to the Job Path service since its introduction and the employment outcomes for people engaging with the JobPath service are ahead of target, at 25% against a target of 14%.

Minister Doherty also pointed out that the use of contracted service providers such as Local Employment Services, Job Club providers and JobPath service providers alongside its own Intreo service has enabled the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to reduce the ratio of jobseekers to case officers from over 2,000:1 to international best practice ratios (120:1) – enabling a more effective and tailored response to the needs of individuals.