Definition of jobs and man-years
Mitchell questioned how the Government defines jobs and whether reported job creation, especially youth employment, should be measured in man-years. O’Donoghue said temporary work is generally identified as such but resisted converting jobs into full-year equivalents; Mitchell argued that short-lived youth placements should not be presented as lasting employment.
asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the definition of the term "job" as used by his Department and other Government Departments, especially with reference to man-weeks.
Comment on this
In general, jobs provided under Government-sponsored job creation programmes are normally intended to be on a continuing basis. Where they are for a limited period, this is usually specified. Job creation programmes are not expressed in terms of man-weeks. However, jobs sustained for limited periods are expressed in terms of man-years to indicate the full year employment equivalent.
Comment on this
Would the Minister represent the 17,000 jobs claimed to have been created in man-years and would he also represent the 6,000 youth jobs claimed to have been created in man-years?
Comment on this
I do not have the calculation in that form. To give it in that form would not serve any useful purpose. If somebody enters regular full-time employment on, say, 1 December 1978 that is as valid an employment creation activity as somebody who has entered a full-time regular job on, say, 1 January. To convert each of those recruitment activities into full-year equivalents would be to refer to the second person, the person employed from 1 January, as the equivalent of one man-year, and the person employed on 1 December would emerge as one-twelfth. Does that make it less of a job creation activity?
Comment on this
No. What I am trying to establish is the contribution which the Government's efforts have made to reducing unemployment in a permanent way. When is a "job" not a real job?
Comment on this
That is usually made clear from the nature of the scheme or activity involved. Where they are full-time permanent posts they are described as such. Where we are dealing with any type of short-term or temporary employment that, too, is usually specified.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that the average length of time of the 6,000 youth jobs created last year was about nine weeks? The Minister should stop codding the frustrated young people who are on the dole. In future, he should define jobs in man-years.