New measures needed to address the problem of "employability", especially for people still on the live register, will be examined by a new study announced yesterday by Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.

Mr Ahern said the Government must continue to make every effort to help people get back to work. "In particular we need to ensure that labour market services are matched to the needs of unemployed people and employers," he said.

The employability study aims to examine several key areas including finding the factors why people remain unemployed.

The Minister hopes the study will identify what policy or practical measures would enhance employability and the ability of the long-term unemployed to take their rightful place in daily economic life.

The Minister said the numbers signing on had fallen by more than 77,000 or 30 per cent since this Government took up office with 200,000 jobs created. The Department of Social Community and Family Affairs said yesterday the number of persons on the live register receiving a payment is about 146,200 which includes 24,700 who are receiving a payment for just part of the week.

The drop in the live register over the last two years is against the backdrop of a population rise of 84,000 up to April this year.