9th Annual Meeting
IMPLEMENTING CHANGE:
A NEW LOCAL AGENDA FOR
JOBS AND GROWTH
In co-operation with the EU Presidency, Irish Government and Pobal
26-27 March 2013, Dublin-Kilkenny, Ireland
PLENARY SESSION II: LOCAL EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES IN RURAL AREAS
Kathy Walsh
KW Research and Associates, Ireland
Employment and Unemployment
in an Irish Rural Context
Dr. Kathy Walsh
OECD Conference
Kilkenny, 27th March 2013
Study Purpose

Examine nature and issues of employment,
unemployment & social inclusion in rural areas (esp.
since 2008).

Make recommendations to address issues

Study undertaken jointly with Brian Harvey.
Focus of this presentation:
Employment & Unemployment
Content

Study purpose

Methodology

Findings

Recommendations
Study Methodology
 Use
of various definitions/approaches to defining ‘rural’
(including a new approach based on various
settlement size (<3,000, 3,000- 5,000 & > 5,000)
 Analysis
of the newly-available 2011 census data and
other data
 Consultations
with key stakeholders
Rural Findings
Definitions and Policies
What is Rural?
No single agreed definition (39%- 59% RoI)
Most of us believe we know what it is......
Population density, land use, settlements patterns, distance
from urban centres
Rural Definitions?

Irish Central Statistics Office aggregate rural areas as a
‘statistical concept where people reside outside clusters (with
legally defined boundaries) of 1,500 or more inhabitants’ (38%)

OECD: rural if the population is less than 150 persons/km2
and classifies regions as Predominantly Rural (PR),
Intermediate (IR) and Predominantly Urban (PU).

EU Survey of Income and Living Conditions has 8
sampling categories (from open countryside, towns under
1,000 to the greater Dublin Area).
Rural Definitions?

> 1,500 too narrow a focus – need an enlarged lens. What
was possible, ultimately developed based on settlement size
(<3,000, 3,000- 5,000 & > 5,000)
Rural Findings (1)

Definitions of rural currently very narrow

Irish rural policy is out of date



Enhancing our future, 1999
Rural initiatives (Rural Social Scheme/Rural Transport
Programme) – but not policies
Need for a statement of basis for rural policy


E.g. Future of Rural Society (Commission, 1988)
Equivalence principle
Rural Findings (2)
Absence of rural policy focus

Many national policies documents
have no rural sections or only
passing mention
- Action Plan for Jobs,
- National Skills Strategy,
- Enterprise Strategy,
- Ministerial briefings 2011
Absence of rural proofing

‘Rural’ has slipped down policy
hierarchy
Findings
Employment & Unemployment
Rural Employment Previously
Main sources of rural employment were: Agriculture,
Natural Resources, Construction (boosted particularly in the
2000’s), Small scale manufacturing and Public services.
Economic Crises (2008-)
 Unemployment 4.7% -2007 to 14.6% -2012
 Long-term unemployment 1.3% -2007 to 8.4% -2012
 Substantial out-migration affecting
 Under-employment 22.7%, the third highest in the EU
 % young people not in Employment, Education or Training
(NEET) the third highest in EU
Data - Rural Employment/Unemployment

•
•
•

Hard to Locate
Live Register Bulletins (monthly) measure of
standardised unemployment rate
Quarterly National Household Bulletin (by sector to
NUTS III level but no rural/urban breakdown)
Regional Labour Market Bulletins (FÁS)
Need to find ways to apply a rural lens – use CSO 2011
Small Area Census data on unemployment & labour force
participation (with the support of National Institute for
Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at NUI Maynooth)
NUTS III Unemployment Figures
(Census 2011)
NUTS III
level
Total
Settlements Settlements Settlements
Border
23%
5,000+
26%
Midland
22%
27%
29%
19%
West
19%
20%
16%
18%
Dublin
17%
17%
17%
15%
Mid-East
18%
18%
18%
18%
Mid-West
20%
25%
0%
17%
South East
22%
25%
26%
19%
South West 17%
19%
19%
15%
3000-5,000 <3,000
21%
28%
• Rural unemployment lowest,
• 3-5,000 settlements surprisingly high unemployment in some regions.
• Caution: The issue of underemployment not considered in Census figures
Unemployment/Employment Supports
 Activation

policies and programmes
Many and varied (Back-to-Work schemes,
Back-to- education courses, short-term enterprise
allowance scheme, Tús, the Rural Social Scheme,
Community Employment, etc.).
Do not match scale of problem
 Have a number of general
problems,(underinvestment, the
prioritizing of control and lack of
progression)
 Not adapted to rural situations. Some
issues are more challenging in rural
areas, (e.g transport, childcare,
broadband access, etc).

Employment Policies/Directions

Convergence about what should be done



Between Ireland and Europe
Between NGOs and government
Main activities identified as:





Investment in infrastructure, public services
Green jobs (agrifood, farmer markets, social
farming, organic, etc), low carbon economy
(biofuels, wind, wave)
Targeted assistance for SMEs, micro-enterprise,
social enterprise
Up-skilling right through to upper age range
Rural, heritage, eco-tourism
Employment/Unemployment Trends

Ireland lags behind Europe in key areas




E.g. organics, biomass, nature
protection, renewables
Example inappropriately applied e.g.
wind
Missed opportunities e.g. heritage
tourism, wave, Groundwork type
improvements
Role of the state: over reliant on private
sector to create work in rural areas.
Overlooks potential for state to create
work directly & provide more effective
support for SME’s.
Employment Opportunities

Need more effective development of
- Social enterprise (0.68% v 6% EU)
- Apprenticeship training, (only 1,400 places)

Need to re-affirm role of community development


It was a major driver of employment in rural Ireland post
1980’s
Since then, investment fallen 42%, increasing concerns about its
future because of proposed alignment process.
Rural Policy
Recommendations
Rural Recommendations
Definitions of Rural
Need a broader definition of ‘rural’ that values the close
linkages between open countryside and small towns and
villages that service these areas. Need to look at particular
employment needs of settlements of 3000-5,000.
Rural Policy
 Development of a new rural vision, setting down the
rationale for investing in and redefining ‘rural’.
 Application of rural proofing, enforced by a Rural Policy
Implementation Group
 Application of the European policy menu in those areas
where Ireland lags
Recommendations
Rural Employment &
Unemployment
Employment/Unemployment
Recommendations:




Better adaptation of activation to the rural, refocusing
resources to intensive support and outreach, investment in
childcare, transport & progression.
Reinvestment in apprenticeships for the new jobs already
identified as appropriate for rural areas.
Investment in the social economy in the rural economy,
with a strategy for its development and a national support
unit.
Re-affirm value of community development. Operation of
European ‘Community Led Local Development Programme
as a global grant (2014-2020).
Thank You for Listening