By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — The number of jobless continues to fall, with 6,377 signing off the live register in March to bring unemployment to its lowest level for 16 years.
Government Chief Whip Seamus Brennan said the figures were continuing evidence of the ability of the economy to translate strong growth into jobs.
Unemployment is now down to 6.7 percent with 33,500 people getting jobs in the 12 months to March.
"Our national employment action plan, designed to cut unemployment to 5 percent, is ahead of target," Brennan said.
The recently announced £20 million "Fastrack to IT" initiative will see another 3,500 long-term unemployed coming off the register for jobs in the computer hardware and software industries.
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March was the 24th consecutive month in which the jobs figures dropped. Nearly 70 percent of those that got jobs in March were men and one-third of the total were under 25.
Tanaiste Mary Harney’s unemployed action scheme, which has targeted under 25s for education, training or work since last September, has had a major impact on the figures. Over half of those called have gone off the register.
About a third of all those sent for interview did not turned up and most have also signed off.
From May 1, the scheme will be expanded to include people in the 25-34 age group who are up to a year unemployed.