A wave of unemployment is sweeping through Mayo according to Labour's Cllr Keith Martin. Cllr Martin says the Live Register Figures released on Friday July 4th point to a massive increase in unemployment throughout the county.
Among the worst hit are Westport with a 55.49% increase, Castlebar with a 58.14% increase, Ballinrobe with a 59.49% increase and Claremorris with an increase of over 65%.
The figures for Mayo are consistent with the national situation which show an increase in unemployment of 19,000 over May 2008 and a 67,000 increase over May 2007.
Cllr Martin says urgent action is required to alleviate the devastating impact that job losses were having on local communities in the west of Ireland. Cllr Martin says the losses were not confined to bigger towns like Ballina with a 35% increase, as Achill was up 29%, Belmullet was up 23% and Swinford was up 45%.
"It is like a tide of unemployment is sweeping through our towns and villages and we in the west have some of the biggest increases. It is a black day for Mayo but if action is not taken things could only get worse."
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