Eurostat, the EU Statistics Agency, recently released new data on the proportion of low-paid workers in Ireland and across the EU. Their analysis defines low-earnings in relative terms measured as those earning two thirds or less of the national median gross hourly earnings. Median earnings are the...

The staff of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) extend their sympathies to the family of the late Dr Dónal Nevin, scholar, trade unionist and socialist who gave a life of service to the common good. The Institute is named in honour of Dr Nevin. A press release has been issued by the Irish...

In the current edition of Mandate's regular publication, Shopfloor, I have an article highlighting the growth in part-time work over recent years. In it I highlight some of the material from the recent NERI conference on the unemployment crisis. The key points are: While the headline figures on job...

The experience of recession and austerity over recent years has been widespread. The impact has been greatest on those who lost their jobs since the combined economic, fiscal, banking, property and social crisis hit Ireland - something I highlighted in a paper at the recent NERI Conference...

Last week I and my fellow researchers on the recent Minimum Income Standards work spoke at an Irish Social Policy Association (ISPA) event on the topic of using minimum incomes for policy analysis and policy planning. In my section of the seminar I highlighted six areas where this research is useful...

On November 12th the NERI hosted a conference focused on Ireland's unemployment crisis. Over a series of papers the nature of the current crisis and the possible solutions to the problem were examined. The papers and presentations for the conference are now available on the NERI website. In my own...

Over one quarter of Irish workers are under-employed. Under-employment includes both those who are unemployed and part-time workers who wish to work more hours. It also includes 'marginally attached' workers such as those who have become discouraged and have given up searching for work, and those...