The ups and downs of work in Ireland

Ups
75 jobs are to be created in Limerick with the announcement by Vistakon, a Johnson and Johnson company, which already employs 600 people at its manufacturing plant in Limerick, that it is to invest €100m expanding the plant. It will mean an extra 60 jobs in Limerick. A further 15 jobs were announced by Channel Advisor Corporation, an ecommerce services company.

Feb 18th: Feared job losses at the ICT call centre in Belmullet have not materialized as the company announced that the jobs were safe. Fifty of the 140 staff are being put on a four day week.

Forfás says Employment in IDA and Enterprise Ireland client firms grew by 1,187 in 2007. Source: www.finfacts.ie

Wyeth Ireland, Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical employer, has announced the creation of 24 jobs and four additional departments at its Wyeth Pharmaceuticals division as a result of it becoming independent of Wyeth UK in June 2007.


Downs
Arnotts, the Dublin retailer announced that it would let go 580 of its 950 employees when it moves to its temporary home in the Jervis Street shopping centre next August. The move paves the way for the redevelopment of the existing building and surrounding properties, and the likelihood that workers will be rehired in several years time on less favourable terms and conditions.

Britvic Ireland today announced plans to invest €7.6 million in its Dublin manufacturing operation in a move towards best-in-class manufacturing. The upgraded facility will also accommodate production volumes from the company’s Cork plant. The moves, which are designed to boost operating efficiencies will result in 60 job losses in Cork on a phased basis over the next 12 months. Source: www.finfacts.ie


The CSO has reported that the seasonally adjusted Irish Live Register total increased from 169,700 in November 2007 to 171,800 in December 2007, an increase of 2,100. This compares with an increase of 5,000 in November.