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

9th Annual Meeting

PLENARY SESSION II: LOCAL EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES IN RURAL AREAS

Kathy WalshKW 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 MethodologyUse 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Irish rural policy is out of date Enhancing our future, 1999 Rural initiatives (Rural Social Scheme/Rural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

FindingsEmployment & 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% -2012Long-term unemployment 1.3% -2007 to 8.4% -2012Substantial 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

5,000+

Settlements

3000-5,000

Settlements

<3,000

Border 23% 26% 28% 21%

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%

• 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 RuralNeed 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 PolicyDevelopment 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

RecommendationsRural Employment &

Unemployment

Employment/UnemploymentRecommendations: 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