This State's experience with unemployment should provide an interesting example for other member states. Our economy has been growing at remarkable rates, averaging more than 7 per cent over the past three years. This is well above the current EU average rate of little more than 2 per cent. Since 1993, Irish unemployment levels have steadily reduced, from 15.7 per cent to 10.8 per cent, which is near the current EU average. Furthermore, the OECD predicts these levels will continue dropping next year to a level of 10.5 per cent. This would be the lowest figure since 1981.
The foundation for Ireland's current economic turnaround was set in the late 1980s. A series of national agreements on wages and taxes, and prudent budgetary stewardship, has brought down public debt. This State has been a beneficiary of sustained EU financial support, but the level of assistance has declined from a figure equal to 8 per cent of GDP to present levels of 6 per cent. Critics will point to this support as a major contributor to the current success, but other member states receive similar or greater support and have not come close to this State's performance.
It is this State's full embrace of "globalisation" that has helped distinguish it from other less affluent EU countries and has put it comfortably in the international arena. This State has carved out its niche in the world markets with its focus on computer technology and systems logistics. Ireland produces one-third of all personal computers sold in Europe. Also, while it still possesses some labour cost advantages which attract these companies, the population is one of the better-educated in the developed world.
This State also has various "employability" services aimed at assisting target groups of the unemployed. The special needs of women, of youth and of the disabled are addressed through the NOW, Integra, Youthstart and Horizon EU-backed programmes.
Dublin has had an employment renaissance of sorts after years of watching thousands of jobs leave the city. In 1980, Dublin employed 76,183 citizens in the manufacturing sector, only to see that number plummet to a 1994 total of 50,348. During the same period, jobs in the internationally-traded services edged up from 1,097 to 10,151. Since 1994 however, the growth rate of these jobs has skyrocketed and they now total over 17,000. Manufacturing jobs have increased by over 4,000 in this period.