At least 2,450 jobs have been lost in the Dublin pub sector since pubs closed their doors in March, according to figures released by the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA). This represents more than one in every five of the 12,000 jobs generated by Dublin pubs before the beginning of the crisis.
On average, just over 18 jobs were lost per day since the 15th March 2020 closure. The LVA has indicated there may also be further significant job losses ahead, with almost one in three Dublin pubs yet to reopen and any pubs that do open operating at 50% capacity or less.
The LVA also confirmed that ten pubs across Dublin have ceased trading since the closure in mid March, including The Queens in Dalkey, The Donaghmede Inn and The Cardiff Inn, Finglas.
“At the outset of this crisis, pubs in Dublin and across the country acknowledged the need to close our doors for the good of public health,” said Donall O’Keeffe, LVA Chief Executive. “This continues to be the responsible course of action, but it has had a real and serious economic impact on the pub sector in Dublin.
“Unfortunately one in every five people employed by pubs in Dublin have lost their jobs in the period since. That amounts to at least 2,450 people who were made redundant. This is incredibly hard on these individuals and their families. On average more than 18 more people working in Dublin pubs lose their jobs every day.
“There is a lot of uncertainty in the sector about future business and employment prospects. Almost one third of the pubs in Dublin are yet to reopen and their viability is further threatened every additional day they remain closed. Any business or employer would struggle if they had no income for 40% of a year, which is the situation facing pubs who will not open before 10thAugust.
“A further tangible sign of that struggle comes in the form of the 10 Dublin pubs who have ceased trading and decided to keep their doors closed for good. The loss of these businesses will be felt by the workers, the publicans involved and by their local communities. Sadly these are unlikely to be the last Dublin pubs to take such a step this year.
“We expect there will be significant further redundancies should the public health situation require additional delays in the reopening of pubs. As it is, even those pubs who are trading have had to let some workers go and/ or reduce the number of hours and level of salary provided to account for pub capacity being reduced to 50% or less of their pre crisis levels. These problems are multiplied for pubs who are not in a situation to take in any income.
O’Keeffe concluded, “This time last year, Dublin pubs were having difficulty finding sufficient staff, such were the number of jobs being created. How that picture has now changed. To what extent the employment outlook further darkens will depend on the trading situation and the public health prognosis in the weeks and months ahead.”
