Options
The transformation of the Irish labour market : 1980-2003
Author(s)
Date Issued
2004
Date Available
2009-10-22T16:12:24Z
Abstract
Traditionally characterised as a labour-surplus economy, Ireland was transformed during the 1990s. An impressive rate of employment growth led to a reduction in the unemployment rate from 15.7% to 4% between 1988 and 2004. Over the same period, labour force participation rates rose markedly and emigration was replaced by a rising net inflow of population. The improvements in labour market outcomes were widely spread across regions, age groups, and educational levels. Employment in agriculture and traditional industrial sectors continued to decline but rapid employment growth occurred in newer manufacturing sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and medical instrumentation, construction, tourism and internationally traded financial sectors. This paper attributes the remarkable transformation of the Irish labour market to a combination of favourable demand side shocks, an elastic labour supply, a growing stock of human capital and a successful return to centralised wage bargaining. The role of structural labour market reforms is discussed and it is argues that their role in the transformation of the labour market was relatively minor.
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland
Journal
Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland
Volume
33
Issue
2003/2004
Start Page
83
End Page
115
Copyright (Published Version)
2004, The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland
Subject – LCSH
Labor market--Ireland
Ireland--Economic conditions
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0081-4776
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
File(s)
Owning collection
Views
2803
Last Week
1
1
Last Month
1
1
Acquisition Date
Apr 16, 2024
Apr 16, 2024
Downloads
2209
Last Month
4
4
Acquisition Date
Apr 16, 2024
Apr 16, 2024