Ryan FowlerThe Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Institute, has published a study today analysing the equality impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Ireland’s labour market. The research indicates an increase in employment rates and a decline in unemployment and labour market inactivity post-pandemic, though inequalities remain.
Eoin Ronayne, Commissioner of the IHREC, said: “While the labour market has seen a remarkable recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the stabilising role of significant public investment, we know that inequality persists. It is critical now that the State embeds this learning, ensuring access to decent, quality work for all.”
Anousheh Alamir from the ESRI commented: “Potentially the greatest legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Irish labour market has been the rise of remote working. Yet not all jobs can be performed remotely, and some groups…have not shared equally in access to remote working. The full consequences of remote working have yet to play out and this underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring of its effects on work and workers.”
The study details the impact of the pandemic on various demographics, noting that younger workers, in particular, experienced significant employment challenges. The rise of remote working has been considerable, though access to such arrangements has not been evenly distributed.
