Employment Breaks Through Recession

    LONDON, ENGLAND, August 18, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- This glimmer persists despite two consecutive austerity budgets and an agreed EUR85bn bailout from the EU and IMF to help shore up the Ireland's banks and public finances.

Financial experts are now predicting a return of confidence to Irish markets and an increase in jobs through 2011.

Michael Page Finance manager Rachel Tubridy said that while it is still "very early to assess the long-term effect of the bailout", the employment market "is beginning to move and expand".

"We think prospects for the next 12 months are good. There will be opportunity and new challenges available both here and abroad which we have not seen for the past two years," said Rachel.

"Is the worst over? In certain sectors it seems so for the moment.

"The recession saw the highest unemployment in Ireland for a long time.

"Initial feelings were to 'wait and see' and some companies have had projects and recruitment drives on hold over the last few years. But by early 2011, we'd noticed a confidence return to the market".

Michael Page hosted a joint event for financial directors in November 2010, where a confidently high percentage of attendees expressed their plans to expand in 2011.

"Many financial services companies have business outside of Ireland and it is these who are now hiring again," Rachel said.

She said the "positive outlook" was "a breath of fresh air for Ireland" whose economy was hit hard by the recession in 2008.

"There has definitely been an increase in job flow, mainly amongst financial services and the multinationals".

While there has been a "genuine pick-up" in the employment industry, companies are still treading cautiously and clients and candidates find themselves on the most even footing seen for a long time.

"It has become an employer's market but funnily enough there are some skill sets which see employers competing for the same candidate. This is uncommon but not rare," said Rachel.

Search for finance and accounting jobs in Ireland to discover your next career move.

Website: www.michaelpage.co.uk

# # #