On the 23rd July 2020, the Irish government announced a 'sizeable' July Jobs Stimulus aimed at getting Ireland's businesses back on their feet and get as many people as possible back to work as quickly as possible. The €7.4 billion package of measures is designed to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of COVID-19.
Launching the Jobs Stimulus, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said:
"The stimulus package announced today will protect existing jobs while creating new and sustainable employment options in the months and years ahead. These measures will support small and medium businesses, give young people greater opportunities in training and education, support workers who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic and rejuvenate communities worst affected by the economic impact of the virus. This is a comprehensive plan which will boost the economy and bring confidence back to towns and villages across Ireland."
In summary, the measures launched are designed to do 4 things:
As part of helping people, especially young people, get back to work, €200 million has been marked for investment in training and education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies, and job search and assistance measures. This package has been designed to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain, or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors.
This will include:
Speaking about the new measures, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD said:
“Covid-19 has turned many of our lives upside down. For some of us, the pandemic has resulted in a loss of employment and maybe the loss of a career path.
The pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on younger workers and those in lower paid occupations. The pace of workplace change has also accelerated; digital skills are essential in almost all occupations. A “once and done” approach to education and training is no longer enough. Upskilling, reskilling and refreshing of skills need to be supported throughout people’s working lives.
The package of funding for higher and further education and training to address this situation amounts to €100 million and will fund over 35,500 places in the current year. This includes 19,000 full and part time places through the Skills to Complete programme aimed at unemployed people seeking work. This initiative will assist people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic by offering them reskilling opportunities in sustainable areas of employment including health care, childcare, eCommerce, software development and online sales.
“We will also offer 3,300 one year post grad courses in areas where there is a skills need at a cost of only 10% to the student.
I am particularly excited about the Apprenticeship Recruitment Incentive. For the first time, we will financially incentivise employers to hire apprentices. Employers will receive €2,000 upfront per apprentice and a further €1,000 after 12 months if the apprentice is still employed. This is good for business and good for the individual.
For businesses, we will offer, through Skillnet Ireland Covid-19 Employment Activation Scheme, a range of supports including Covid training supports, new digital skills, management training and a Climate Action Upskilling Scheme.”
