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For more information on this release:
E-mail: labour@cso.ie Sabrina Bowen +353 21 453 5151 Catalina Gonzalez +353 21 453 5163
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-8456
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Monthly Unemployment

April 2017

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployedSeasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
April 2016183,1008.4
March 2017140,6006.4
April 2017135,8006.2
  Percentage Points
Change in month- 4,800- 0.2
Change in year- 47,300- 2.2

Monthly unemployment rate of 6.2% in April 2017

Figure 1 Monthly unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2017 was 6.2%, down from 6.4% in March 2017 and down from 8.4% in April 2016. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 135,800 in April 2017, down from 140,600 when compared to the March 2017 figure and a decrease of 47,300 when compared to April 2016. 

Summary points for April

  • In April 2017 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7% for males, down from 6.9% in March 2017 and down from 9.7% in April 2016.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in April 2017 was 5.5%, down from 5.7% in March 2017 and down from 6.8% in April 2016.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in April 2017 was 81,400. This is a decrease of 2,000 when compared to the March 2017 figure of 83,400. In April 2017 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 54,400, a decrease of 2,800 when compared to March 2017.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 12.9% in April 2017, a decrease from 13.7% in March 2017.
Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2015April131,40078,300209,700 11.18.19.7
 May128,60077,700206,300 10.88.09.6
 June126,50076,000202,400 10.77.89.4
 July124,40073,400197,800 10.57.69.2
 August124,70071,200195,900 10.57.49.1
 September126,00070,500196,500 10.67.39.1
 October127,50070,200197,700 10.77.29.1
 November128,00068,700196,700 10.87.09.1
 December126,30066,700193,000 10.66.88.9
 
2016January120,50063,400184,000 10.26.58.5
 February117,70062,600180,300 9.96.48.3
 March116,30064,200180,500 9.86.68.3
 April115,80067,300183,100 9.76.88.4
 May115,10068,600183,800 9.66.98.4
 June113,50068,800182,300 9.56.98.3
 July111,80065,500177,300 9.36.68.1
 August109,10064,300173,400 9.16.57.9
 September102,90061,700164,600 8.66.27.5
 October97,10061,200158,300 8.16.27.2
 November92,70061,200153,900 7.76.27.0
 December90,30061,000151,300 7.56.16.9
 
2017January87,70059,800147,500 7.36.06.7
 February85,60058,500144,200 7.15.96.6
 March83,40057,200140,600 6.95.76.4
 April81,40054,400135,800 6.75.56.2
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2015April24,40015,60039,900 23.818.621.4
 May23,50015,30038,800 23.318.120.9
 June23,10014,90038,000 23.117.620.6
 July23,10015,10038,200 23.017.620.5
 August23,40015,00038,400 23.217.320.5
 September23,80015,20039,000 23.617.520.7
 October23,80014,80038,500 23.617.120.6
 November23,50014,10037,600 23.316.420.1
 December22,50013,00035,500 22.415.119.0
 
2016January21,30011,50032,800 21.013.417.6
 February21,00011,50032,500 20.413.117.1
 March20,80012,50033,300 19.913.817.1
 April21,70014,10035,700 20.215.017.8
 May22,10014,80036,900 20.115.217.8
 June22,20014,90037,100 20.015.417.9
 July22,20014,50036,700 19.915.317.8
 August21,90014,30036,200 19.715.117.6
 September20,70013,70034,400 18.814.616.9
 October19,70013,70033,400 18.214.416.4
 November18,90013,80032,700 17.614.216.0
 December18,50014,10032,700 17.314.215.8
 
2017January18,10013,40031,500 16.613.315.1
 February17,70012,70030,300 16.112.514.4
 March17,20012,10029,300 15.511.813.7
 April16,70011,40028,000 14.711.012.9
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2015April107,00062,700169,800 9.97.18.6
 May105,10062,400167,600 9.77.18.5
 June103,30061,100164,400 9.56.98.3
 July101,30058,300159,600 9.36.68.1
 August101,30056,200157,500 9.36.48.0
 September102,20055,300157,500 9.46.38.0
 October103,80055,400159,200 9.56.28.1
 November104,50054,600159,100 9.66.18.1
 December103,80053,700157,500 9.56.08.0
 
2016January99,20052,000151,200 9.15.87.7
 February96,70051,100147,900 8.95.87.5
 March95,50051,700147,200 8.85.87.5
 April94,10053,300147,400 8.76.07.4
 May93,00053,800146,900 8.56.07.4
 June91,30053,900145,100 8.46.07.3
 July89,60051,000140,600 8.25.77.1
 August87,20050,000137,200 8.05.66.9
 September82,20048,000130,200 7.65.46.6
 October77,30047,500124,800 7.15.36.3
 November73,70047,400121,100 6.85.36.1
 December71,80046,800118,600 6.65.26.0
 
2017January69,60046,400116,000 6.45.25.8
 February68,00045,900113,800 6.25.15.7
 March66,10045,100111,300 6.05.05.6
 April64,70043,000107,800 5.94.85.4

Background Notes

Purpose

The purpose of this release is to provide a detailed series of monthly unemployment estimates. The release contains both monthly unemployment rates and monthly unemployment volumes. These outputs now replace the seasonally adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rate (SUR) as the definitive measure of monthly unemployment.

Calculation of Monthly Estimates:

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) provides benchmark estimates of employment and unemployment for each quarter since the beginning of 1998. These quarterly benchmark estimates are then used to compile monthly data using the Proportional Denton method. The main characteristic of this method is that the monthly Live Register series is used as an indicator to disaggregate the quarterly QNHS unemployment series into a monthly series in such a way as to minimise the differences between two consecutive months. It also ensures that the average of three months in a particular calendar quarter is equal to the corresponding QNHS estimate.

For months where the quarterly unemployment data is not yet available, the ratio of the QNHS monthly estimate to the Live Register monthly estimate (i.e. the benchmark to indicator ratio) is forecast forward in order to extrapolate a monthly QNHS estimate. The monthly series is revised each quarter when the latest quarterly data becomes available. This approach adheres to agreed international practice.

Seasonal Adjustment:

To correct for typical seasonal patterns, the data series included have been concurrently seasonally adjusted. This seasonal adjustment is completed by applying the X-12-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. In the case of these monthly unemployment estimates, seasonal adjustment is conducted using the indirect approach, where each individual series is independently adjusted.  To preserve consistency between the individual and aggregate series, the series for gender, age group and total monthly unemployed are then created from these component series. The series for monthly unemployment rates are likewise created from these component series.

One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)

The One-Parent Family Payment is a social welfare payment for men and women who are younger than 66 and bring up children without the support of a partner and meet certain other criteria. Claimants on this scheme are not counted as part of the Live Register.

From July 2013 new rules came into operation reducing the age limits for the One-Parent Family Payment. This means that some people no longer qualify for the payment and may avail of other schemes or supports.

As a consequence, approximately 2,800 people in July 2015 previously receiving the One-Parent Family Payment, made a claim for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) and are therefore included in the Live Register figures which are used to extrapolate a monthly QNHS estimate as the quarterly unemployment data is not yet available. It can be noted that the inclusion of these additional persons in July 2015 has a marginal impact on the production of the estimated monthly unemployment volume and rate.

Additional Background Information:

Further information regarding the QNHS and Live Register series are available from each respective release.

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