THERE is no "correct" measure of un-employment, according to a report of the National Economic and Social Forum. The report urges the Government to change the way in which unemployment is measured, and says that the Live Register is a poor guide both to the level and trend of unemployment.
The forum urges the Government to introduce a number of measurements to help understand and explain the increasingly complex functioning of the labour market, including a separate register of those looking for work.
The NESF drew up its draft report, a copy of which has been seen by The Irish Times, in response to the recent controversy about the divergence between unemployment figures according to the Live Register and the Labour Force Survey, and the related question of fraudulent claims.
Its purpose is to evaluate the different ways of measuring unemployment, to provide a fuller understanding of the functioning of the labour market and to make recommendations for policy purposes.
All the existing measurements of unemployment contain useful data, according to the report, so there is no reason to plump for one to the exclusion of others.
However, the Labour Force Survey is the most precise, and is based on internationally agreed definitions.
The forum recommends that the Central Statistics Office consider publishing a range of unemployment data, to include people on schemes, "discouraged workers" and those interested in a job but economically inactive.
It should also publish a detailed quarterly Employment Report on changes in the labour market, coinciding with the Labour Force Survey results.
The Department of Enterprise and Employment should consider establishing a parallel register of job seekers, perhaps initially on a pilot basis.
In addition, there should be regular independent monitoring of Government policy measures to assist the unemployed.