Where is the recovery?

Over the last year there has been a noticeable change in what we see in the media and what politicians and commentators tell us regarding the state of our country and its economy. Positive pieces have replaced the gloomy, downbeat reports that have clogged up our newspapers and televisions for the past five years. However, not everyone is on board with the notion that things are on the up. Skeptics say the recovery is an illusion, or worse a cynical PR stunt designed to make the government look good. They argue that the drop in unemployment (Now at 11.9% from a high of 15.1% in 2012) is a false figure doctored by failing to discount people on back to work or education schemes, and ignoring the plight of emigration.

In cases like this its best to look at the facts. It is a fact that people are still finding it hard to make ends meet. It’s also a fact that unemployment is unacceptably high and yes, emigration and back to work schemes make unemployment figures seem less dreary. But those aren’t the only facts. Here are some more: it is a fact that economic growth is back and that exports are rising while investment in the country is up It is a fact that 61,000 jobs were created in Ireland last year, the vast majority of which were in Dublin. Help wanted signs are being hung up across a broad spectrum of industries, with high profile IT vacancies to less publicized roles in small and medium sized firms available across the country. It’s a fact that even the battered construction industry has seen staffing levels rise each month for the last 6 months. In survey after survey, employers forecast increased activity and employment in their sector. So if you haven’t felt the green shoots growing under your feet, don’t despair: the facts suggest that opportunity might not be too far away.

Its important, however, that people are ready to take advantage of these opportunities when they become available. After years of having applications rejected or being stuck in a dead-end job, it’s understandable that people are reticent to take chances, but just because there are jobs on your doorstep, it doesn’t mean that they will come knocking on your door. People have to make an effort to look for jobs, and need to make sure that they are an attractive prospect to employers. That means having an up to date and detailed CV that fits the job you are applying for, it means talking to friends and using your network to discover opportunities. It means using the internet and it means talking to recruiters who can advise you and use their contacts to be on the lookout for jobs to suit you.

Don’t delay in adjusting to a changing reality. Get looking for that new job, prepare properly and take the opportunity to become just another (positive) statistic in Ireland’s economic recovery.

This piece featured in the Dublin People on 18\03\2014.