The OECD says more needs to be done to help young Irish people find jobs. It has suggested the JobBridge scheme may need to concentrate more on disadvantaged groups as the Irish economy begins to recover.
However in a review of the 'Action Plan for Jobs', it says the government is on track to achieve its promise of creating 100,000 new jobs by 2016 and to have 2.1 million people in work by the year 2020.
The report says that the Irish labour market "bounced back strongly in 2013", with positive momentum having continued into 2014.
"Ireland is well on track to achieve the interim (Action Plan for Jobs) target of 100,000 new jobs by 2016, while the longer-term aim of having 2.1 million employed people by 2020 also looks firmly within grasp", says the OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria.
But he also says that "significant challenges lie ahead if the country is to rapidly bring down the unemployment rate".
"As the economic recovery gains traction, getting people back to work, stemming the flow of economic emigrants and regaining market share for the country’s exports
will in turn support domestic demand and a virtuous circle of economic revitalization and more inclusion growth in the years to come" he added.
'Need to target at-risk groups'
The OECD also points to a number of areas where measures could be more effective, citing the JobBridge scheme.
It says it is a large and expensive programme, having been expanded from 6,000 to 8,500 places in Budget 2013, "and is not targeted specifically at the most disadvantaged groups".
It says that while this may be acceptable "at a time of chronic unemployment" that as unemployment starts to decline, such efforts should be more closely targeted on vulnerable groups most at-risk of remaining jobless.
It finds that "Ireland is strengthening its capacity in the area of job search support and activation, but this should be extended to those in programmes to maximise programme effectiveness" and that participation in programmes such as JobBridge on a part-time basis could also be considered in order to facilitate job searches.
Yves Leterme from the OECD says young people are a particular concern when focusing on unemployment, and that the government should consider adding further terms and conditions to social welfare.
