Are things really that bad ?

digitally-yours

Just read this article and I am thinking is this true ?

how many people you have seen taking the low paid work ?

Unemployed Irish turn to low-paid 'immigrant jobs'
Job-seekers are having to change their attitude to low paid work


IRISH jobseekers feeling the bite of the worsening employment market are starting to fill jobs left vacant by eastern Europeans escaping Ireland’s economic gloom.

Having shunned them for the past decade, Irish students and workers are now taking up low-paid jobs in cleaning, catering, security and supermarkets, employers say.

In the last seven months, McDonald’s, the fast-food chain, has witnessed the first increase in applications from Irish people in 10 years. Aldi, a German discount supermarket chain, is reporting increasing numbers of applications from Irish workers for store assistant positions, while The Real Dirtbusters, a cleaning company, has seen a “huge increase” in Irish job applicants.

Unemployed Irish workers are starting to change their attitude towards jobs that were predominantly the preserve of immigrants during the Celtic tiger years as employment in construction and manufacturing dries up. Some 26,600 people signed on for the dole in the three months to March, the Central Statistics Office reported earlier this month, pushing the unemployment rate up to 5.1%.

“Irish people are taking in the reality that it’s not as easy as it once was to find the job they want,” said Fionnuala Smyth, senior employment officer at Fas, the national training and employment authority.

“We are actively encouraging Irish people, especially in the construction industry, to come down to entry level in another sector, take advantage of the training available and work their way up. If you were working as a bricklayer and lost your job you could move into, say, landscape gardening, starting off by laying paving stones.”

A combination of poorer employment prospects in Ireland and more opportunities in their home countries led to a decline of 26,000 in the number of immigrants coming to Ireland in the year to April from the same period a year earlier, a separate CSO report found.

The number of citizens from the European Union’s newer member states who registered to work or to access public services in the republic fell by 40% in the first half of this year, suggesting a significant easing of inward migration from central and eastern Europe. Just 40,000 people from the EU’s 12 newest members obtained a PPS number in the first six months of the year, compared to 66,500 over the same period last year.

McDonald’s has “experienced a slight fall-off in the numbers of applications from foreign workers in the past seven months,” alongside a simultaneous increase in job applications from Irish people, said Michele Ryan, the chain’s HR director in Ireland.

At the McDonald’s outlet on Kennedy Avenue in Carlow, some 19 Irish employees work alongside staff from countries such as Russia. “I’ve seen five or six new Irish people come to work here lately,” said Denis Quinlan, a 20-year-old Carlow IT student who works part-time in the restaurant.

McDonald’s has been running its Change the Script advertising campaign since February to highlight the benefits Irish people can reap from working with 40 other nationalities in an attempt to change perceptions about working at the chain, Ryan said.

It was McDonald’s that inspired novelist Douglas Coupland to coin the term “McJob” to describe a “low-prestige, low-dignity, low-benefit, no-future job in the service sector” in his 1991 book Generation X. When the company heard in 2003 that the word was included in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the chief executive of McDonald’s asked them to remove it. Last year, the company launched a petition to remove “McJob” from the Oxford English Dictionary on the basis that it slandered the company’s proud workforce.

At Aldi, where store assistants outside Dublin earn €10.85 an hour, “there are definitely more Irish people coming through,” said Naheed Choudhury, a manager at recruitment agency Achievers who screens the supermarket chain’s job candidates.

“There is the perception out there that eastern Europeans work harder and when Irish people look at the job, they realise they will have to up their game if they want it.”

Michael Kavanagh, managing director of The Real Dirtbusters, has seen a 20% increase in Irish people applying for cleaning jobs compared to last year.

“When we advertised jobs before, about one in 100 applicants would be Irish,” he said. “Now we even have Irish fellas coming over from the sites in England looking for jobs here. One guy I just employed said he was willing to work for less than the minimum wage, but we don’t allow that.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4641529.ece

phasers

yes

dlofnep

I don't know. I've been in my curent job for 5 years. Not sure how the real world out there is.

antodeco

Sure isint that how the Mod's got their jobs?

dr.bollocko

Depends on the sector and the need for cash. A lot of nobility in taking a lower paid job just to work when a better one isnt available. Thank god there is nothing tying me to ireland in the event that the bottom falls out. I can swan off someplace else and get meself a well paying job. Others aint so lucky. But there are still good jobs out there for good people so nobody should be disheartened.

Iago

so things being "really that bad" is now being defined as Irish people having work at €8+ an hour?

lol

dr.bollocko

Iago wrote: »

so things being "really that bad" is now being defined as Irish people having work at €8+ an hour?

lol

8 euro an hour is a shit shit shit wage for anyone above the age of 16

Terry

They are that bad.

I'm a skilled tradesman (ok, I've a halfarsed skilled tradesman) and most other tradesmen I know are feeling the pinch.

The construction industry is usually the first to go and then the rest follows.

Remember, we're the fat bastards who buy McDonalds food.

I've actually considered applying for a shelf stacking job in the local supermarket, but things are picking up at the moment. They usually do in the run up to Christmas, as people do their houses up to impress the relations coming over at that time.
However, come January, I'll reconsider that job stacking shelves. I really don't care where I work, as long as I have an income.

shoelaceface

there is a FLY attacking me

Stheno

Things are pretty bad in Laois, the amount of men claiming social welfare has increased something like 80% this year, and the social welfare office is so busy they have had to stagger sign on days to deal with the volume.

A lot of it in Laois is construction, that's really slowed down.

Terry

Who the **** lives in Laois?

shoelaceface

this man does




and all these girls

Earthhorse

shoelaceface wrote: »

this man does




and all these girls

Then it's worse than we thought.

shenanigans1982

shoelaceface wrote: »

this man does




and all these girls

Not a decent looker between them...things are bad in Laois.

Pompey Magnus

In the last two times I have been desperate enough to go into McDonalds I have been served by two Irish people. I was confused for a moment as it was a bit of a shock.

Alter-Ego

shoelaceface wrote: »

this man does




and all these girls

Mass emigration from Laois within the next few months!!....ah well.

Degsy

Its getting noticible alright.I'm starting to see irish security guards in Tesco and places like Supermacks.Very different from even a year ago.
I need a driveway and i havnt been able to afford it,wonder will it be cheaper now?

Degsy

Terry wrote: »

They are that bad.

I'm a skilled tradesman (ok, I've a halfarsed skilled tradesman) and most other tradesmen I know are feeling the pinch.

The construction industry is usually the first to go and then the rest follows.

Remember, we're the fat bastards who buy McDonalds food.

I've actually considered applying for a shelf stacking job in the local supermarket, but things are picking up at the moment. They usually do in the run up to Christmas, as people do their houses up to impress the relations coming over at that time.
However, come January, I'll reconsider that job stacking shelves. I really don't care where I work, as long as I have an income.

Why dont you get some cards printed and drop them in at the big tiling warehouses?I got my tiler from one of those ads and people are still buying tiles,and always need tilers to put em up.

Corruptedmorals

dr.bollocko wrote: »

8 euro an hour is a shit shit shit wage for anyone above the age of 16

Except it's not €8, it's €8.65. If you get enough hours and stay there long enough, it can pay rent and food.

dr.bollocko

Nah not knocking it. Just saying it aint easy mate.

Terry

Degsy wrote: »

Why dont you get some cards printed and drop them in at the big tiling warehouses?I got my tiler from one of those ads and people are still buying tiles,and always need tilers to put em up.

Already done.
I used to work for the largest tile importer in the country. My name and number is on their list of tilers, but the work is still slack. People just aren't buying.

Iago

I'm not saying it's easy but if the worst level people in this country get to is working and earning €8+ an hour then won't we be the lucky ones. I'm old enough to remember the tail end of the really tough times through the 80's. When there was no work to be had and our young people were leaving the country in droves. When the vast majority of the population couldn't afford a holiday abroad and the minority of people had cars.

Now it's a recession if I don't have an 08 car sitting in the drive of my overpriced house, and my wife complains that we're only going to Spain for two weeks instead of Mauritius. Not to mention that my son is scandalised by the fact that he may actually have to get a part-time job if he wants decent pocket money and I won't host a big party for his 16th birthday*

We have it so easy in this country compared to a huge number of people and countries around the world, but all we do is moan and groan.



*[size=-12] actual recession terms a reflection of society rather than me personally[/size]

gixerfixer

Iago wrote: »

so things being "really that bad" is now being defined as Irish people having work at €8+ an hour?

lol

Are you trying to say 8 euro for an hour's work is acceptable? :pac:

homerjay2005

Iago wrote: »

I'm not saying it's easy but if the worst level people in this country get to is working and earning €8+ an hour then won't we be the lucky ones. I'm old enough to remember the tail end of the really tough times through the 80's. When there was no work to be had and our young people were leaving the country in droves. When the vast majority of the population couldn't afford a holiday abroad and the minority of people had cars.

Now it's a recession if I don't have an 08 car sitting in the drive of my overpriced house, and my wife complains that we're only going to Spain for two weeks instead of Mauritius. Not to mention that my son is scandalised by the fact that he may actually have to get a part-time job if he wants decent pocket money and I won't host a big party for his 16th birthday*

We have it so easy in this country compared to a huge number of people and countries around the world, but all we do is moan and groan.



*[size=-12] actual recession terms a reflection of society rather than me personally[/size]

f*cking spot on that post. sums up Ireland exactly.

MagicMarker

All i know is i've started looking for work for when i arrive back in Ireland later this month and there is a significant decrease in jobs available on the likes of fas.ie compared to when searching for jobs in the past.

I'm still confident i'll find a job but i don't know how long it will take or how good it will be.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Kanoe

I was laid off before christmas last year and have been looking since. I've lost count of the amount of jobs I've applied for. I tried to get work housekeeping in a hotel that was advertising on jobs.ie but they sent me a letter saying that I was unsucessful even though the ad went back up the following week, I figured they didnt want Irish workers. I used to work in a factory on good money doing night shift and at the moment I' ve ve landed some part time cleaning work.

Shryke

I wouldn't call things bad but they're getting there. I'll be back making a bit in a week or so but who knows what the future will bring. All I'll say is God bless the welfare state.

godtabh

Terry wrote: »

They are that bad.

I'm a skilled tradesman (ok, I've a halfarsed skilled tradesman) and most other tradesmen I know are feeling the pinch.

The construction industry is usually the first to go and then the rest follows.

Remember, we're the fat bastards who buy McDonalds food.

I've actually considered applying for a shelf stacking job in the local supermarket, but things are picking up at the moment. They usually do in the run up to Christmas, as people do their houses up to impress the relations coming over at that time.
However, come January, I'll reconsider that job stacking shelves. I really don't care where I work, as long as I have an income.

Thats the kind of attitude thats required.

If needs be (and touch wood it doesnt) I'd easily go back to Tesco if I had too. Done it before. Best job ever.

I've done so many ****ty jobs in the past nothing is below me. I just hope I dont have to clean any urinals any time soon

I'm not saying it's easy but if the worst level people in this country get to is working and earning €8+ an hour then won't we be the lucky ones. I'm old enough to remember the tail end of the really tough times through the 80's. When there was no work to be had and our young people were leaving the country in droves. When the vast majority of the population couldn't afford a holiday abroad and the minority of people had cars.

You're totally missing the point that it's the worse off who are affected most. The people making 8.65 an hour were never going to Mauritius on holidays or buying Mercs. My parents might not feel it as much, but as a recent graduate, I can only dream of buying and running a car, and the idea of buying a house is laughable. I had a full time job and had to do evening grinds to afford any 'luxuries' like driving lessons or clothes. No, it's not like living in a third world country, but it's hardly ideal. I will be moving abroad because I can't really afford to live here and save anything. It's all relative - 8.65 is grand if you live in the south of Spain, but we live in a country where a single room in a nice area is easily 400-500 euro, driving lessons are 45 quid a go, a pint is over 5 euro. I don't know anyone on minimum wage who isn't flat broke or living with Mammy. There's a reason our minimum wage is so much higher than in most other countries.

Ross_Mahon

There has been lots of people returning from Inter-Railing and not getting their jobs back.

Wagon

Im just out of college and have a decent job...till Christmas. Then i'm ****ed

Senna

my mates been out of work since nov 2007, he's in a fairly specialised field, but during the boom days 2002-2006, he had companies phoning him up to see if they could persuade him to work for them.
He went for a interview last week, there was 85 other applicants:eek: and this was a specialised job opening.

My company hasn't advertised for staff in ages, but i cant wait till we do, last time we put an advert on the net, in the local papers and in the local college. We got about 2 cv's in. This time i'm expecting a lot more interest and maybe even some decent staff.

smemon

Interesting thread...

I think things aren't actually that bad at the minute... they can get a hell of a lot worse.

Lucky for me, i'm in college at the minute and will be for the next 2/3 years so i really don't have to worry about anything but when i come out, i'd expect the country to be on it's last legs.

Everyone seems to think this recession thing will blow over, it's temporary... i don't know where that's coming from...

Our entire Celtic Tiger hinged on property development... now that supply/demand has kicked in and there's a hole in the population bucket, how is that magically gonna be fixed any time soon?

Iago

[quote=[Deleted User];57128856]You're totally missing the point that it's the worse off who are affected most. The people making 8.65 an hour were never going to Mauritius on holidays or buying Mercs. [/QUOTE]

I don't really think I've missed the point to be honest, but the problem above hasn't really got anything to do with the OP. The OP postulates that things are really bad because people are having to go and work in macDonalds or cleaning companies or somewhere else at minimum wage. This is only a problem for people who would have expected to make more than €8.65 in an ideal situation. The issue around the minimum wage not being enough to live on is completely seperate although it has the same grounding in greed and expectation.

My point is very simple, if you can afford to put food on the table, have a roof over your head and have clothes on your back then you better off than at least 80% of the worlds population. If anyone is saying that as an individual they can't do that on €345 a week then they need a reality check. Yes it'll be hard, no they won't be able to go drinking every weekend or afford a holiday abroad, but I really don't think that's the definition of really bad.


edited to add:

June Incalculable Spine wrote:

but we live in a country where a single room in a nice area is easily 400-500 euro, driving lessons are 45 quid a go, a pint is over 5 euro

prime example right there, your big concern is driving lessons and alcohol. Luxuries not nesseccities (sp)

gurramok

Well, the jobless rate today has continued its upward spiral to 6.1%, about 235,000 folks. A fair amount of cv's competing for less jobs around.

MagicMarker

gurramok wrote: »

Well, the jobless rate today has continued its upward spiral to 6.1%, about 235,000 folks. A fair amount of cv's competing for less jobs around.

Yep, highest unemployment rate for 10 years.

Terry

Ross_Mahon wrote: »

There has been lots of people returning from Inter-Railing and not getting their jobs back.

Yeah, but they're hippies and will never work.

Iago wrote: »

I don't really think I've missed the point to be honest, but the problem above hasn't really got anything to do with the OP. The OP postulates that things are really bad because people are having to go and work in macDonalds or cleaning companies or somewhere else at minimum wage. This is only a problem for people who would have expected to make more than €8.65 in an ideal situation. The issue around the minimum wage not being enough to live on is completely seperate although it has the same grounding in greed and expectation.

My point is very simple, if you can afford to put food on the table, have a roof over your head and have clothes on your back then you better off than at least 80% of the worlds population. If anyone is saying that as an individual they can't do that on €345 a week then they need a reality check. Yes it'll be hard, no they won't be able to go drinking every weekend or afford a holiday abroad, but I really don't think that's the definition of really bad.

You could live here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel

edited to add:



prime example right there, your big concern is driving lessons and alcohol. Luxuries not nesseccities (sp)

Drink cans and get lessons from friends.

digitally-yours

Found some more news.

It shows the trend in negative direction too

Unemployment at 6.1% after record jump

The highest in 10 years

The number of people receiving unemployment related benefits rose by 73,200 in the 12 months to the end of August.

According to the Central Statistics Office, this is the largest annual increase in unemployment ever recorded in this country.

It brings the rate of unemployment up to 6.1% - the highest for ten years.
Advertisement

The news will come as a shock to the Government which is already grappling with the consequences of a rapid deterioration in the public finances.

The increase means that unemployment has now rise by 42% in just one year and August is now the fourth consecutive month in which the annual rise in the numbers on the dole has set a new record.

The total number on the dole now stands at 247,384, the highest level for ten years.

Men accounted for 73% of the increase over the past 12 months, reflecting the impact of the very sharp downturn in the construction industry.

The numbers on the live register do not normally rise during August as a result of seasonal employment patterns. However this year's numbers buck that trend with the numbers on the dole up by 9,100 during this month.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association described the situation as frightening and accused the Government of standing idly by. It said that many small businesses are reducing working hours and wage rates in order to survive the economic downturn.

Economists are now predicting that the unemployment rate will rise to 8% next year.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0903/cso.html

Looks It will get worse before it gets better

smemon

digitally-yours wrote: »

Looks It will get worse before it gets better

But that's the thing... will it get better? What gives us that confidence?

punchestown

Quote:
Budget brought forward to October

The Government has decided to bring forward the date of the Budget to October 14.

A statement said the country was now facing 'an unprecedented set of unfavourable international factors', including turbulence on financial markets, weaker economic growth, currency movements and sharp rises in oil and other commodity prices.

It said these - along with the slump in the construction sector at home - were placing the economy under considerable pressure.

'In addition, the slowdown has resulted in a rapid deterioration in the public finances and falling consumer confidence,' the statement said.

It said the Budget move reflected the need to prioritise spending in the light of falling tax revenues. 'As such, it will give clarity and confidence to investors and taxpayers alike, and provide a sound basis for economic recovery,' it said.

Zeeta

To be honest things are dismal. I am seriously condering emigrating and to where, I don't know. After finishing college with a good degree and post-grad I am currently working for the minimum wage in a job which I would have had when I was 15/16. Finding it extremely hard to get by, especially with debt from Uni.

Duckjob

Are things really that bad?

No. They're worse.

If the so-called "boom" of the last 10 yrs had any genuine substance to it then we should now have to show for it:
- a first class infrastructure and transport system
- a first class health-care system
- a first class education system
- low personal taxation.

Instead we have:
- a completely car/oil dependent culture and no viable alteratives to using a car.
- elderly people literally dying on trolleys in hospital corridors
- schools literally falling to pieces due to lack of funding.
- an arse-stretching, eye-watering array of stealth taxes.

Bertie stood up last year and announced that the economy was in great shape, the envy of Europe, and anyone who said otherwise was a doom-monger that should commit suicide. He should be strung up by the goolies in O'Connell Street for that, along with all his cronies that stuck their fingers in their ears when the warning signs were already smacking them in the head.

I suspect where we are now is only the tip of the iceberg. Our so called "roaring economy" has been exposed as the credit and greed fueled shambles it was, and the real problems are only beginning....

Sleepy

*takes a deep breath*

No, they're not that bad but they will get worse. Poor government has killed a golden calf, stuck an airpump in it's mouth and blown it up until it exploded in pieces around us.

Life ain't easy. It never is for more than a handful of people or for a relatively short time.

People who've felt entitled to charge huge money for their ability to dig holes, lay blocks, choose clothes for other people, badly attempt to spin a politicians lies, show someone around a house after sticking an ad in a paper, apply fake tan and paint fingernails etc. etc. etc. are going to have to realise that their skillsets aren't that difficult to acquire or aren't that important when money is scarce. They'll have to upskill, change careers and just get on with it.

When you swallow your pride and take a minimum wage (or close to it) job to survive, it still won't be that bad. You won't have designer labels, a wild social life or many nice things but you'll still have the basics and enough for the odd night out and luxury item.

Rents are falling left right and centre and it's a renters market - most landlords will be happy to discuss a drop in your rent rather than face losing you as a tennant at the end of your lease. The supermarkets are already engaging in a price war so you can feed yourself cheaper too!

When you lose the low-paid job it'll probably feel like it's that bad but you'll still have food in your kitchen, a place to sleep, clothes on your back and, if you haven't availed of it already, the opportunity to upskill yourself to degree level for relatively little (assuming they don't reintroduce fees) or if you have one already, FAS courses etc.

Yeah, our government made an awful mess of things. Yeah, we all went along for the ride on credit we couldn't afford. Yeah, things aren't sunshine and roses but it's still better than it was in the past.

Wibbs

Duckjob wrote: »

Are things were that bad?

No. They're worse.

If the so-called "boom" of the last 10 yrs had any genuine substance to it then we should now have to show for it:
- a first class infrastructure and transport system
- a first class health-care system
- a first class education system
- low personal taxation.

Instead we have:
- a completely car/oil dependent culture and no viable alteratives to using a car.
- elderly people literally dying on trolleys in hospital corridors
- schools literally falling to pieces due to lack of funding.
- an arse-stretching, eye-watering array of stealth taxes.

Bertie stood up last year and announced that the economy was in great shape, the envy of Europe, and anyone who said otherwise was a doom-monger that should commit suicide. He should be strung up by the testicles in O'Connell Street for that, along with all his cronies that stuck their fingers in their ears when the warning signs were already smacking them in the head.

I suspect where we are now is only the tip of the iceberg. Our so called "roaring economy" has been exposed as the credit-fueled shambles it was, and the real problems are only beginning....

I agree wholeheartedly. Ireland in the boom was like someone who got rich by winning the lotto rather than earning riches. Loads of confidence but bugger all insight on how to generate more wealth or even have a decent infrastructure beyond the trinkets of modernity, that usually were massively over priced.. Only last year I was on AH debating with some bloke who was convinced that Ireland was great as a place to do business. TBH he sounded like a student with little experience of the actualities of conducting business here. Infrastructure and attitudes here made it difficult at times I can tell you. In practical matters too. When money is being thrown around and thrown at problems it looks easy to be efficient. Now we will see many companies go to the wall because of inefficiency and silly prices. There is always money to be made even in a major depression and those willing and able to look beyond the obvious will be the ones who do it. Our boom just covered up the faults.

The original reasons that international(mostly US) companies came here was due to a pretty cheap english speaking educated labour force, low corporation taxes and a gateway into europe. The chinese have the manufacturing lark down pat at very low prices. Closer to home, poland has a cheap, well educated labour force and has rail and road links directly into europe, so watch a load of companies here relocate there. OK english may be a niggle, but they'll learn and learn quick too. We priced ourselves away from international investment due to many factors, but hubris and lack of forward planning were much to do with it.

I also agree that you can live on less money, but there exists many in a large proportion of the younger populace that have very high expectations. They'll have to readjust or face some unsavoury times ahead. The credit card junkies are having a rough time and it's gonna get much rougher.

I see mates of mine in their 30's really struggling in the last few months. It was that rapid a change too. They're not in construction either.

If Dell relocates that will tip it further. Them and someone like Intel leaving? Major disaster.

We need to get cheaper. Full stop. We need to make transport more efficient and cheaper, we need to drop our wage expectations. We need to give incentives for retraining in areas that poland, china and the like can't or won't.

Can't see it happening though.

Tha Gopher

digitally-yours wrote: »

In the last seven months, McDonald’s, the fast-food chain, has witnessed the first increase in applications from Irish people in 10 years.

Odd. I only remember foreigners starting to work the likes of BK and mackers around 2000 or 2001 (they were all Chinese. Jesus I remember in the beginning the first ones had barely any English)


There are Irish people even working the late night weekend shifts in takeaways in town now, I hadnt seen that in about 5 years. I presume the pay is still the same though. The decline in EE is likely because for alot of them the increase in the cost of living back home is diminishing the value of the money they stockpiled here in their years working on minimum wage. Get back and spend/invest the dosh before it is only worth about as much as it is here.

prime example right there, your big concern is driving lessons and alcohol. Luxuries not nesseccities (sp)

I wouldn't say driving was a luxury where I come from. It's pretty much essential, as there is no public transport. When/if I move back home, I will need to drive to work. I never said alcohol was a necessity. I agree that you can scrape by on the minimum wage if you never go out and never buy anything but food, but how is that 'quality of life'? Of course we have it better than a lot of the world, but living in a cold bedsit and coming home from work and eating beans on toast every night is hardly a nice way to live. To say people on the minimum wage have it 'easy' is laughable. No, they aren't starving to death, but they are working to live and nothing more. No possibility of a mortgage, no possibility of buying a car, no savings for the future. These are hardly 'luxuries' like going to Mauritius or buying your food in M&S. As I said, the fact the minimum wage is 8.65 means nothing when everything is so expensive here. I could earn 900 euro a month in Spain and have a higher quality of life (and I actually did so, so I'm not talking out of my a*se)

To be honest things are dismal. I am seriously condering emigrating and to where, I don't know. After finishing college with a good degree and post-grad I am currently working for the minimum wage in a job which I would have had when I was 15/16. Finding it extremely hard to get by, especially with debt from Uni.

Same.

MagicMarker

I earn approx 800 euro a month here in Canada and can still afford to rent my own (not sharing) downtown apartment. Can't very well do that in Ireland. I don't earn much more than minimum wage here.

ongarite

Have to agree with Wibbs. This downturn is going to be worse than many can imagine.
The real Celtic Tiger started its death rattle in 2000/2001 when I started in the electronics sector and is completely dead now.

Intel and HP in Ireland are in bad shape, the future of Intel (for next 10 yrs) is very very uncertain. Intel Ireland is too expensive and not attractive to American HQ. The collapse of dollar has only f*cked up even more.
Why build a new FAB in Ireland when you can built a new one in Israel or US paid for by that country, state.
HP in Leixlip is in no great shape either with manufacturing plant there probably going to go abroad.

The easy money, happy days of medical sector (like tech sector in early 90s) is gone and they are cost cutting, rationalising plants in Ireland, worldwide.

I couldn't recommend any Leaving Cert student to apply for engineering college place. Its a dead industry.

gazzer

Bertie stood up last year and announced that the economy was in great shape, the envy of Europe, and anyone who said otherwise was a doom-monger that should commit suicide. He should be strung up by the testicles in O'Connell Street for that,

Totally agree. I would happily take a pay cut just to see that happening. That scumbag ruined our country and he should be held accountable

Renegade_Archer

Earned 28k euro a year as a graduate with IBM in Dublin; thankfully I was able to live rent-free with the parents so I could afford / insure a car - if I was renting a place things would have been a lot tighter. Got a job with Activision here in California, and I was able to buy a car outright, rent a flat, and still put away a few quid a month.