New figures showing that unemployment remains at 14.2% means there is an urgent need for a growth plan that will focus on boosting domestic demand.
As Congress mounted a Protest Picket on the EU Commission offices in Dublin, Congress General Secretary David Begg said: "The jobless rate remains high and shows no sign of falling.
Coupled with the latest fall in retail sales, it is clear that domestic demand has collapsed. If we want to boost job creation we will have to boost domestic demand."
Mr Begg said unions had advanced several proposals to Government on how investment could be secured to create jobs, including through private pension funds.
The Protest Picket at the EU Commission Office was organised as part of European Trade Union Day of Action, which sees unions in 27 countries across Europe stage a series of coordinated rallies, protests and pickets to demand the introduction of policies to create jobs and boost growth in the region.
European Trade Union Day of Action is organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), to which Congress is affiliated. The Protest Picket in Dublin runs from 1-2pm, at the Commission offices in Dawson Street.
