The statistics presented in this chapter show developments in the Irish labour market and are based primarily on results from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The latter part of the chapter contains mainly administrative data, compiled by the CSO, showing the trends in the number of persons on the Live Register as well as details of industrial disputes.
| 3.1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex and ILO economic status | |||||||
| '000 | |||||||
| ILO economic status | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Males | |||||||
| In labour force | 1,295.3 | 1,265.6 | 1,223.5 | 1,206.9 | 1,193.4 | 1,195.2 | 1,192.0 |
| In employment: | 1,208.6 | 1,071.8 | 1,015.7 | 992.8 | 977.0 | 1,005.7 | 1,030.6 |
| full-time | 1,113.6 | 958.5 | 894.4 | 864.1 | 839.8 | 862.2 | 885.2 |
| part-time: | 95.1 | 113.3 | 121.3 | 128.7 | 137.2 | 143.5 | 145.4 |
| of which: part-time, not underemployed | n/a | 65.4 | 69.9 | 69.2 | 68.3 | 78.5 | 86.8 |
| part-time, underemployed | n/a | 47.9 | 51.4 | 59.5 | 68.9 | 65.0 | 58.6 |
| Unemployed: | 86.7 | 193.8 | 207.8 | 214.1 | 216.4 | 189.6 | 161.3 |
| seeking full-time work/future job-starter | 79.7 | 177.4 | 192.1 | 196.8 | 198.2 | 174.2 | 146.7 |
| seeking part-time work | 4.2 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 6.6 |
| seeking work as self-employed | [2.8] | 10.4 | 11.0 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Not in labour force | 476.7 | 513.8 | 548.5 | 564.2 | 567.9 | 564.7 | 569.7 |
| Potential additional labour force | 13.2 | 28.3 | 34.4 | 36.3 | 31.3 | 35.8 | 28.6 |
| Others | 463.5 | 485.5 | 514.1 | 527.9 | 536.6 | 528.9 | 541.1 |
| Total males aged 15 or over | 1,772.0 | 1,779.4 | 1,771.9 | 1,771.0 | 1,761.3 | 1,759.5 | 1,761.7 |
| Unemployment rate % | 6.7 | 15.3 | 17.0 | 17.7 | 18.1 | 15.9 | 13.5 |
| Participation rate % | 73.1 | 71.1 | 69.0 | 68.1 | 67.8 | 67.9 | 67.7 |
| Females | |||||||
| In labour force | 983.0 | 983.3 | 975.3 | 971.8 | 965.7 | 975.4 | 964.1 |
| In employment: | 938.7 | 902.2 | 877.9 | 868.5 | 859.2 | 864.3 | 870.9 |
| full-time | 636.3 | 598.6 | 576.9 | 559.7 | 556.4 | 555.6 | 566.1 |
| part-time: | 302.4 | 303.6 | 301.1 | 308.8 | 302.8 | 308.6 | 304.8 |
| of which: part-time, not underemployed | n/a | 238.7 | 238.2 | 231.2 | 215.0 | 224.3 | 233.7 |
| part-time, underemployed | n/a | 64.9 | 62.9 | 77.6 | 87.8 | 84.3 | 71.1 |
| Unemployed: | 44.3 | 81.1 | 97.3 | 103.3 | 106.6 | 111.2 | 93.2 |
| seeking full-time work/future job-starter | 30.1 | 65.5 | 77.6 | 80.6 | 82.0 | 82.8 | 71.9 |
| seeking part-time work | 13.6 | 14.5 | 18.0 | 20.9 | 22.2 | 26.9 | 20.2 |
| seeking work as self-employed | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Not in labour force | 820.0 | 837.5 | 851.1 | 856.2 | 864.0 | 850.9 | 868.1 |
| Potential additional labour force | 12.2 | 16.4 | 16.8 | 22.2 | 26.6 | 24.2 | 23.2 |
| Others | 807.8 | 821.1 | 834.3 | 834.1 | 837.4 | 826.7 | 844.9 |
| Total females aged 15 or over | 1,803.0 | 1,820.8 | 1,826.3 | 1,828.1 | 1,829.7 | 1,826.3 | 1,832.2 |
| Unemployment rate % | 4.5 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 10.6 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 9.7 |
| Participation rate % | 54.5 | 54.0 | 53.4 | 53.2 | 52.8 | 53.4 | 52.6 |
| All persons | |||||||
| In labour force | 2,278.3 | 2,248.9 | 2,198.7 | 2,178.7 | 2,159.1 | 2,170.7 | 2,156.1 |
| In employment: | 2,147.3 | 1,974.0 | 1,893.6 | 1,861.3 | 1,836.2 | 1,869.9 | 1,901.6 |
| full-time | 1,749.9 | 1,557.1 | 1,471.3 | 1,423.8 | 1,396.2 | 1,417.8 | 1,451.3 |
| part-time: | 397.5 | 416.9 | 422.4 | 437.5 | 440.0 | 452.1 | 450.3 |
| of which: part-time, not underemployed | n/a | 304.1 | 308.1 | 300.4 | 283.4 | 302.8 | 320.6 |
| part-time, underemployed | n/a | 112.8 | 114.2 | 137.1 | 156.6 | 149.4 | 129.7 |
| Unemployed: | 131.0 | 275.0 | 305.1 | 317.4 | 323.0 | 300.7 | 254.5 |
| seeking full-time work/future job-starter | 109.8 | 242.9 | 269.7 | 277.4 | 280.1 | 257.0 | 218.6 |
| seeking part-time work | 17.8 | 20.5 | 22.6 | 26.5 | 28.7 | 34.2 | 26.8 |
| seeking work as self-employed | 3.3 | 11.6 | 12.8 | 13.5 | 14.1 | 9.5 | 9.1 |
| Not in labour force | 1,296.6 | 1,351.3 | 1,399.5 | 1,420.4 | 1,431.9 | 1,415.6 | 1,437.7 |
| Potential additional labour force | 25.4 | 44.6 | 51.2 | 58.4 | 57.9 | 60.0 | 51.8 |
| Others | 1,271.3 | 1,306.6 | 1,348.3 | 1,362.0 | 1,374.0 | 1,355.6 | 1,386.0 |
| TOTAL PERSONS AGED 15 YEARS AND OVER | 3,575.0 | 3,600.2 | 3,598.2 | 3,599.1 | 3,591.0 | 3,586.3 | 3,593.9 |
| Unemployment rate % | 5.7 | 12.2 | 13.9 | 14.6 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 11.8 |
| Participation rate % | 63.7 | 62.5 | 61.1 | 60.5 | 60.1 | 60.5 | 60.0 |
| Employment rate % (persons aged 15-64) | |||||||
| Male | 75.4 | 66.8 | 63.9 | 62.8 | 62.4 | 64.6 | 66.3 |
| Female | 60.4 | 57.6 | 56.0 | 55.6 | 55.2 | 55.9 | 56.4 |
| All persons | 67.9 | 62.2 | 60.0 | 59.2 | 58.8 | 60.2 | 61.3 |
| 1 Reference period: Quarter 2 (April-June) | |||||||
| Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. | |||||||
| * Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable. | |||||||
| Source: CSO | |||||||
Interactive table: StatBank link
The total number of persons in the labour force in 2014 was 2,156,100, an annual decrease of 14,500. The number of persons in employment decreased from 2,147,300 in 2008 to 1,901,600 in 2014.
The overall unemployment rate increased from 5.7% in 2008 to 13.9% in 2013 and stood at 11.8% in 2014. The number of persons unemployed in 2008 was 131,000 compared with 300,700 in 2013 and 254,500 in 2014. The number of persons unemployed decreased by 15.4% between 2013 and 2014.
| 3.2 Industrial disputes: days lost in all disputes in progress during year | |||||||||
| Number | |||||||||
| Economic Sector (NACE Rev.2 ) | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
| A | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | _ | _ | _ | |||||
| B-E | Industry | 6,114 | 1,047 | 14,696 | |||||
| F | Construction | _ | _ | 1,004 | |||||
| G | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1,640 | 1,939 | _ | |||||
| H | Transportation and storage | 732 | 9,815 | 3,917 | |||||
| I | Accommodation and food service activities | _ | _ | _ | |||||
| J | Information and communication | _ | _ | _ | |||||
| K-L | Financial, insurance and real estate activities | _ | 19 | _ | |||||
| M | Professional, scientific and technical activities | _ | _ | _ | |||||
| N | Administrative and support service activities | _ | _ | _ | |||||
| O | Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | _ | _ | 600 | |||||
| P | Education | _ | _ | 23,770 | |||||
| Q | Human health and social work activities | _ | 2,145 | _ | |||||
| R-U | Other NACE activities | _ | _ | 28 | |||||
| Total | 8,486 | 14,965 | 44,015 | ||||||
| Source: CSO | |||||||||
Interactive table: StatBank link
During 2014 there were 44,015 days lost due to industrial disputes. This compares with 14,965 days lost in 2013 and 8,486 days lost in 2012. There were a total of eleven industrial disputes in 2014 compared with twelve in 2013. The eleven disputes in progress in 2014 involved 31,665 workers and eleven firms.
| 3.3 Annual average number of persons on the Live Register in each Regional Authority | ||||||||||||
| Number | ||||||||||||
| Regions | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||
| Males | ||||||||||||
| Border, Midland & Western | ||||||||||||
| Border | 13,234 | 13,923 | 21,145 | 37,678 | 41,051 | 40,587 | 39,096 | 36,832 | 33,129 | |||
| Midland | 5,795 | 6,693 | 10,972 | 19,792 | 21,661 | 21,733 | 21,331 | 20,566 | 18,616 | |||
| West | 8,532 | 9,280 | 13,917 | 24,795 | 26,579 | 25,979 | 24,555 | 23,268 | 20,771 | |||
| Southern & Eastern | ||||||||||||
| Dublin | 25,562 | 26,035 | 35,542 | 63,943 | 70,043 | 69,904 | 68,646 | 65,057 | 58,688 | |||
| Mid-East | 7,006 | 7,842 | 12,824 | 24,928 | 27,580 | 27,461 | 26,519 | 25,000 | 22,237 | |||
| Mid-West | 7,815 | 8,475 | 12,752 | 23,542 | 25,749 | 25,037 | 23,773 | 22,028 | 19,437 | |||
| South-East | 11,963 | 12,478 | 19,738 | 34,251 | 37,761 | 37,630 | 36,663 | 34,580 | 31,150 | |||
| South-West | 12,692 | 13,412 | 19,861 | 36,395 | 40,314 | 39,642 | 38,039 | 34,766 | 30,554 | |||
| Total | 92,600 | 98,138 | 146,750 | 265,325 | 290,737 | 287,972 | 278,623 | 262,096 | 234,582 | |||
| Females | ||||||||||||
| Border, Midland & Western | ||||||||||||
| Border | 9,581 | 9,548 | 11,769 | 18,639 | 21,174 | 22,394 | 22,584 | 22,385 | 21,513 | |||
| Midland | 4,834 | 4,897 | 6,088 | 9,767 | 11,085 | 11,861 | 12,352 | 12,684 | 12,363 | |||
| West | 6,537 | 6,495 | 7,981 | 12,748 | 14,272 | 14,952 | 14,990 | 15,036 | 14,056 | |||
| Southern & Eastern | ||||||||||||
| Dublin | 14,824 | 14,361 | 17,755 | 31,408 | 35,416 | 35,956 | 36,054 | 35,998 | 34,331 | |||
| Mid-East | 5,465 | 5,516 | 7,264 | 12,950 | 14,881 | 15,536 | 15,472 | 15,765 | 15,202 | |||
| Mid-West | 5,711 | 5,739 | 7,251 | 12,102 | 13,853 | 14,146 | 13,978 | 13,484 | 12,646 | |||
| South-East | 8,755 | 8,674 | 10,725 | 16,733 | 19,168 | 20,225 | 20,602 | 20,495 | 19,493 | |||
| South-West | 9,092 | 8,940 | 11,153 | 18,487 | 21,104 | 21,862 | 21,600 | 21,007 | 19,592 | |||
| Total | 64,798 | 64,171 | 79,985 | 132,834 | 150,953 | 156,932 | 157,631 | 156,854 | 149,197 | |||
| All persons | ||||||||||||
| Border, Midland & Western | ||||||||||||
| Border | 22,815 | 23,471 | 32,914 | 56,317 | 62,225 | 62,980 | 61,680 | 59,217 | 54,642 | |||
| Midland | 10,629 | 11,590 | 17,059 | 29,560 | 32,746 | 33,594 | 33,683 | 33,250 | 30,979 | |||
| West | 15,069 | 15,775 | 21,898 | 37,543 | 40,851 | 40,932 | 39,545 | 38,304 | 34,827 | |||
| Southern & Eastern | ||||||||||||
| Dublin | 40,386 | 40,397 | 53,296 | 95,351 | 105,458 | 105,860 | 104,700 | 101,055 | 93,019 | |||
| Mid-East | 12,471 | 13,303 | 20,088 | 37,878 | 42,460 | 42,997 | 41,991 | 40,765 | 37,439 | |||
| Mid-West | 13,526 | 14,214 | 20,002 | 35,644 | 39,602 | 39,183 | 37,751 | 35,512 | 32,083 | |||
| South-East | 20,718 | 21,152 | 30,463 | 50,984 | 56,929 | 57,855 | 57,266 | 55,075 | 50,643 | |||
| South-West | 21,784 | 22,352 | 31,014 | 54,882 | 61,418 | 61,505 | 59,639 | 55,773 | 50,146 | |||
| TOTAL | 157,398 | 162,309 | 226,735 | 398,159 | 441,689 | 444,905 | 436,254 | 418,950 | 383,779 | |||
| Source: CSO | ||||||||||||
Interactive table: StatBank link
The average number of persons on the Live Register decreased from 418,950 in 2013 to 383,779 in 2014. The average number of males on the Live Register stood at 234,582 in 2014, with the average number of females at 149,197.
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