Local MLA Phil Flanagan asked for the local figures in Stormont
THE most advertised job vacancies in Fermanagh do not require a university education and may serve to explain why our graduates are leaving the county in droves.
In Fermanagh the main occupation sought from April 2013 is that of sales/retail assistants. This is followed by; office/clerical workers, carpenters/joiners, cleaners/domestic assistants, van drivers, brick layers/ masons and farm workers.
The information was revealed in Stormont when local MLA Phil Flanagan asked the Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry to detail the sought occupations and usual occupations of people who are unemployed in the Fermanagh area.
The usual occupations of the unemployed clients closely reflects the sought occupations. Dr Farry added that there has been an approximate reduction of over 10% unemployed clients in the Fermanagh area since April 2013 but the change in profile from April 2013 to June 2014 has been minimal.
Speaking about the findings yesterday Mr Flanagan said he did not feel that they reflected the brain drain from the county, rather illustrated the strong workforce that exists in Fermanagh.
“For me what this shows is that there’s now a higher standard of people getting employment in areas such as these. Going into shops and supermarkets now you see graduates carrying out jobs that before would have been carried out by those less qualified. The demand for jobs is at such a high level that the highly educated and skilled, due to the lack of employment opportunities have to search for jobs below their pay and skills grade or face the prospect of languishing on the dole or like so many have before; emigrating.”
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