Scheme provides monthly cash incentive for employers who recruit people who are long-term unemployedJobsPlus, the Government’s new wage subsidy scheme for employers, has helped create over 1,000 new full-time jobs since its launch in July.
Through the scheme, the State helps to meet the wage costs of employers who recruit people who have been on the Live Register for 12 months or more.
A total of 1,007 employers and eligible jobseekers have now been “matched” or fully approved – meaning those jobseekers are being recruited and the employers will receive the wage subsidy.
Of that total, 707 employers are already receiving their monthly payments in respect of 844 employees, with the remainder currently being processed.
In addition, a large number of applications from employers and jobseekers are being assessed and applications continue to be received.
Minister Burton commented: “The idea behind JobsPlus was to introduce a simple and effective scheme that would help employers to recruit new staff and help long-term unemployed persons to find work. The scheme is already paying off, and more than 1,000 positions have now been supported.”
JobsPlus is a key priority of the Government’s Pathways to Work and Action Plan for Jobs strategies. The Action Plan for Jobs is designed to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, jobs-rich economy, while Pathways to Work aims to ensure that as many as possible of those newly created jobs go to people on the Live Register.
JobsPlus replaced two schemes previously operated by the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two-year period and provides two levels of payment:
· a payment of €7,500 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months; and
· €10,000 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months.
JobsPlus is designed to offer ease of access and quick turnaround in decision-making using online services at www.jobsplus.ie. Jobseekers and employers can get further support from local offices and Intreo Centres of the Department. Any employer can advertise vacancies free of charge on www.jobsireland.ie.
Minister Burton said: “JobsPlus is one of a suite of services available from the Department to assist employers in recruiting staff from the Live Register and these measures are contributing to the increase in the number of people in employment. The CSO figures this week show that the number of people in work has increased by 58,000 over the last year. Tackling unemployment will remain the Government’s number one priority and schemes like JobsPlus have a significant role to play in that regard.”
Services provided by the Department of Social Protection to assist employers include:
· Free job advertising and job matching services (www.jobsireland.ie)
· The national internship scheme – JobBridge
· Financial supports for recruiting long-term unemployed people – JobsPlus
· In-work supports to employees – Part-time Job Incentive scheme and Family Income Supplement
· WorkAbility services, including wage subsidies and grants, for employing people with a disability.
Note for Editors
Contact details
· Information about the JobsPlus scheme is available at www.jobsplus.ie.
· To advertise a job vacancy on www.jobsireland.ie, telephone the National Contact Centre at Freephone 1800 611 116. This is a free service.
· To find candidates to fill job vacancies, employers should contact their local Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Local Office or Employment Services Office. The location of Intreo Centres and the Department’s other offices is available at www.welfare.ie.
· Information in relation to JobBridge is available at www.jobbridge.ie.
ENDS
JobsPlus – Employer & Employees in receive of support:
Data by County at 29.11.2013
County Number of Employers receiving JobsPlus Number of Employees
Carlow 14 16
Cavan 10 12
Clare 14 15
Cork 60 79
Donegal 33 35
Dublin 195 230
Galway 34 43
Kerry 26 26
Kildare 34 39
Kilkenny 18 21
Laois 15 16
Leitrim 1 1
Limerick 30 32
Longford 13 15
Louth 21 23
Mayo 19 24
Meath 23 32
Monaghan 13 16
Offaly 8 8
Roscommon 5 5
Sligo 14 14
Tipperary 20 21
Waterford 22 42
Westmeath 14 14
Wexford 27 31
Wicklow 24 34
Total All Counties 707 844