Jobs crisis revealed

Over 100 people applied for a single receptionist job in an Athlone business recently it"s emerged, as the scale of the jobs drought locally is laid bare. The well-known company, who didn"t wish to be named, confirmed to Westmeath Independent that it had received 103 CVs after advertising the full-time receptionist post some weeks ago. 'Two years ago we might have had 20,' the owner said. And, the quality of those applying has also changed over the period, he added. 'We had people with degrees, teachers, many of whom you would consider overqualified but I suppose that"s because nobody is taking on anyone at the moment.' Meanwhile, one of the largest employers in the town, the Department of Education, has reported receiving 1,800 applications for a recent recruitment competition for temporary clerical officers with the State Examinations Commission. While this is an increase on a previous competition held two years ago, it is not significantly greater number of applicants than previously, a Department spokesperson confirmed to the Westmeath Independent. The Department said there was no competition held in 2009 for temporary service officer jobs as they were drawn from a 2008 competition panel. A recent HSE advertisement for multi-task attendants or porters for the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar and the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise attracted a massive 700 applications. A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive said it was a combined competition over 700 applications were submitted between both hospitals. 'The purpose of the advertisement is to create a panel of suitable candidates for appointment to vacancies approved for filling during the lifetime of the panel.'