A blueprint to help create employment and remove barriers for jobseekers compiled by an employment initiative was yesterday presented to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe.
The Employers' Jobs Creation Initiative's 10-point plan includes the appointment of a job creation tsar to coordinate employment programmes, the creation of a national recruitment body, and the establishment of a national jobseeker database.
Spokesman for the initiative Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig said the recommendations were viable.
"Economic recovery begins and ends with employment. There are currently in excess of 433,000 on the Live Register," he said.
The document suggested that the national jobseeker database should be compiled of those available for work on the Live Register, with employers given free access to allow them to target desired skills sets.
The proposed enterprise placement scheme, aimed at helping professional job seekers improve their skills, would have four stages - business analysis, delivery, development and support - supported by an intensive two-week training programme at each stage.
The plan also made a number of other recommendations, including an open data initiative that would make Government data accessible to the public free of charge, an SME graduate programme and a self-employment initiative that would facilitate job seekers in collaborating on public and private tenders.
To help indigenous firms reach new export markets, the plan suggested that shared sales and distribution channels could be established.
It also advocated the introduction of a piecework method for paying jobseekers and the introduction of a life long learning initiative that would identify key areas of continuous learning around competitiveness, innovation and commercial awareness and would provide funding for employee training.