Labour market information, January 2012

Business/finance

The broadcasting group Sky is to create more than 800 jobs in Dublin. The new positions will come on-stream over the next two years, with opportunities ranging from customer service manager roles to training jobs. Sky is to begin recruiting immediately. Irish Times 31 January

Eishtec, a Waterford-based company providing consumer contact centre services, is to expand and create 250 new jobs. RTE 13 January

Ulster Bank has announced 600 jobs would be lost from its operations in the Republic. Irish Times 12 January

Engineering

Omagh based company JMG Systems, who provide engine monitoring systems to the quarrying, aircraft, construction and crane industries, are to recruit 21 new employees. The new jobs will be in engineering, production operatives and administration. Silicon Republic 12 January

General

A Morgan McKinley survey, surveying 584 senior-level operational and HR managers working for financial services, professional services, manufacturing and IT companies across Ireland, reveals that the majority 65 per cent have plans to hire in 2012. A further 12 per cent are still unsure of their recruitment strategies. Business & Leadership 12 January

The IDA has suggested that Irish students should switch their focus from traditional careers such as medicine, law and teaching, to industries such as technology and bio-science. This follows a year when more than13,000 jobs were created by international companies in Ireland last year with the majority of these new jobs being in technology, biotech and life sciences. Irish Times 6 January

Almost three-quarters of companies plan to either freeze or cut pay this year, according to research by IBEC. It found that 76 per cent of respondent companies had implemented a pay freeze in 2011, and 74 per cent would either freeze or reduce basic pay rates in 2012. Irish Times 9 January

Hotel/catering

Around 100 jobs have been lost following the closure of two hostels and one hotel in Dublin. The Dublin Tourist Hostel Limited, the company responsible for Hotel Isaacs Dublin, Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn, went into liquidation. RTE 12 January

ICT

OpenJaw Technologies, which provides online retail technology and services to the travel industry, is to create 45 new jobs. The new jobs will be in sales, engineering, development and product management, and will be located in Dublin and Galway. Information security and services company Sysnet Global Solutions is create 30 new jobs in Dublin and eight in its overseas network by 2014. RTE 16 January

ATS International, who provide technology for manufacturing companies, has acquired Cork firm OceanModus and plans to create more than 20 jobs over the next three years. Business & Leadership 16 January

Technology company Blueface has announced an investment of €1 million in Dublin, creating 12 jobs. Irish Times 11 January

100 technology jobs have been announced by management consultants Accenture. The positions are targeted at both graduates and those with industry experience and will be based around the country. RTE 9 January

Ten new jobs are to be generated as part of an international expansion plan by Roscommon communications and IT services firm Flexible Contact Solutions (FCS). Silicon Republic 5 January

Cloud computing company Workday has announced plans to expand its presence in Europe and the Middle East by creating 100 jobs over the next three years in Dublin. Meanwhile, US-based translation company CETRA is establishing its European Service Centre in Limerick resulting in 20 new jobs. RTE 5 January

Honeywell Measurex, makers of parts for the computer industry in Waterford, is to lay off 32 people. RTE, 12 January

Marine

A new programme of applied research will support more than 20 high end jobs in 2012. The research is part of INFOMAR, the national marine mapping programme, being conducted by the Geological Survey and Marine Institute. Business Post 12 January

Medical/pharmaceutical

Cook Medical is to invest up to €16.5m over four years creating a number of highly skilled positions in R&D activities at its Limerick site. RTE 5 January

US medical device maker Allergan announced that 200 new jobs will be created at the site in Westport over the next four years. Irish Times 10 January

Retail

Barratts shoe stores announced closure of all its Irish concessions with the loss of 36 jobs. The chain's stand-alone high street stores are unaffected. Meanwhile, La Senza is to shut three of its eight outlets in the Republic of Ireland. Business & Leadership 3 January