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E-mail: labour@cso.ie Martina O'Callaghan (+353) 21 453 5491 Jim Dalton (+353) 21 453 5093
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5112
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Quarterly National Household Survey

Quarter 2 2016

IndicatorQuarter 2 2016Annual change
Employed2,014,900 +56,200
Unemployed187,800-23,400
In labour force2,202,700 +32,800
Not in labour force1,434,900 -2,200

Employment increases by 2.9% in year to Q2 2016

Figure 1 Numbers in employment (ILO) in the SECOND quarters 2012 to 2016
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There was an annual increase in employment of 2.9% or 56,200 in the year to the second quarter of 2016, bringing total employment to 2,014,900. This compares with an annual increase in employment of 2.4% in the previous quarter and an increase of 3.0% in the year to Q2 2015.

Summary points for Q2 2016

  • The increase in total employment of 56,200 in the year to Q2 2016 was represented by an increase in full-time employment of 44,900 (+3.0%) and an increase in part-time employment of 11,400 (+2.5%). See table 1 and figure 1.
  • On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment increased by 20,000 (+1.0%) over the previous quarter. This follows on from a seasonally adjusted increase in employment of 16,100 (+0.8%) in Q1 2016, an increase of 7,700 (+0.4%) in Q4 2015, an increase of 11,700 (+0.6%) in Q3 2015 and an increase of 12,700 (+0.7%) in Q2 2015. See table 3.
  •  The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the quarter at 8.4%, while the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed increased by 1,500. See table 3.
  •  Unemployment decreased by 23,400 (-11.1%) in the year to Q2 2016 bringing the total number of persons unemployed to 187,800. This is the sixteenth quarter in succession where unemployment has declined on an annual basis. See table 1.
  • The long-term unemployment rate decreased from 5.5% to 4.4% over the year to Q2 2016.  Long-term unemployment accounted for 51.1% of total unemployment in Q2 2016 compared with 56.1% a year earlier and 57.6% in the second quarter of 2014. See table 6.
  • The total number of persons in the labour force in the second quarter of 2016 was 2,202,700, representing an increase of 32,800 (+1.5%) over the year.  This compares with an annual labour force increase of 13,800 (+0.6%) in Q2 2015.  The number of persons not in the labour force in Q2 2016 was 1,434,900, a decrease of 2,200 (-0.2%) over the year. See table 1.

 

After each Census of Population the sample of households for the QNHS is updated to ensure the sample remains representative. The new sample based on the 2011 Census of Population was introduced incrementally from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013. This change in sample can lead to some level of variability in estimates, particularly at more detailed levels and some caution is warranted in the interpretation of trends involving the period of its introduction.

 

Employment

  • The annual increase of 56,200 (+2.9%) in employment was represented by an increase of 26,100 (+2.5%) in male employment and an increase of 30,100 (+3.4%) in female employment over the year. See tables 1, 7 and figure 1.
  • Employment increased in twelve of the fourteen economic sectors over the year (excluding Not stated) and fell in two. The largest rates of increase were recorded in the Administrative and support service activities (+9.9% or 6,300) and the Construction (+8.7% or 10,900) sectors. See table 2 and figure 2.
  • The greatest rate of decline in employment was recorded in the Financial, insurance and real estate activities (-1.1% or -1,100) sector. See table 2 and figure 2.
  • The overall employment rate among persons aged 15-64 was 64.7% in Q2 2016 compared to 63.1% in Q2 2015. See table 8.
  • The number of employees in Q2 2016 was 1,669,000, up 53,100 (+3.3%) over the year. The number of self-employed persons increased by 1,000 (+0.3%) over the year to 328,500. See table 5.

 

NACE Rev.2 Economic SectorQ2 2015Q2 2016
1112500116400
2245000255000
3125900136900
4271700274100
59280094900
6136700145800
78230084700
8102700101600
9115800115000
106380070100
11100400105000
12150700150900
13249100251100
14102100106500
KEY  
1- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
2- Industry
3- Construction
4- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
5- Transportation and storage
6- Accommodation and food storage activities
7- Information and communication
8- Financial, insurance and real estate activities
9- Professional, scientific and technical activities
10- Administrative and support service activities
11- Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
12- Education
13- Human health and social work activities
14- Other NACE activities

 

Public Sector Employment

  • Based on the higher response levels and lower levels of subjectivity associated with the Earnings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS) the CSO believes it offers a more reliable source for public sector employment estimates over time. In particular, employment data coded to Sectors P (Education) and Q (Human health and social work activities) of the NACE Rev. 2 Industrial Classification which is presented in Tables 2 and 3 are not exclusively public sector employment.
  • Table A2 in the annex shows the most recently available estimates of public sector employment from the EHECS survey at the time of this release being finalised. An updated series will be issued with the next Earnings and Labour Costs release which is due to be published shortly.

 

Unemployment

  • Male unemployment decreased by 14,300 (-10.9%) to 117,200 over the year to Q2 2016, while female unemployment decreased by 9,100 (-11.5%) to 70,500 over the same period. See tables 1 and 7.
  • The overall unadjusted unemployment rate decreased from 9.8% to 8.6% over the year to Q2 2016. See tables 1 and 8.
  • In the year to Q2 2016, the number of persons classified as long-term unemployed decreased by 22,700 (-19.1%), bringing total long-term unemployment to 95,900. Short-term unemployment decreased by 3,000 (-3.4%) over the year to 85,000. See table 6 and figure 3.
  • The unemployment rate for 15-24 year olds (youth unemployment rate) decreased from 22.4% to 19.0% over the year to Q2 2016. See table 8.

 

Short-termLong-term
Q2 13 Male63900123300
Q2 16 Male4460068200
Q2 13 Female5790051800
Q2 16 Female4050027700
  • A series of Monthly Unemployment statistics was first issued by the CSO in 2015. The most recent publication was issued in August 2016 for reference month July 2016. The Monthly Unemployment release contains a series of monthly unemployment rates and volumes. It is based primarily on the QNHS while data for more recent periods for which no QNHS benchmark is available is adjusted for trends in the Live Register and is compiled in accordance with agreed international practice. These statistics are the definitive measure of Monthly Unemployment and have replaced the SUR (which has now been discontinued).
  • The previously published seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment figures are now revised with the availability of new QNHS benchmark unemployment estimates for Q2 2016. The seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for June 2016 is now revised from 7.8% to 8.4%, while the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed is revised from 169,100 to 184,100.
  • The provisional estimates for July 2016 have also been revised and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July is now estimated to have been 8.3% while the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed is now estimated to have been 183,100. The full series of revised monthly unemployment rates and volumes are included in Tables A3, A4 and A5.

 

Labour force

  • As with employment, the number of persons in the labour force is also influenced by changes in the size of the working age population (demographic effect).  Up to the start of 2008 this demographic effect had been adding 65,000 or more to the labour force on an annual basis, primarily driven by net inward migration.  This demographic effect peaked at almost 88,000 in the second quarter of 2007. See tables 1 and 7.
  • With the decline in inward migration the positive demographic effect started to fall in the second half of 2007 and continued to decline throughout 2008 and 2009 before becoming negative in Q4 2009. The negative demographic effect continued for each quarter until Q1 2016. In Q2 2016 a positive demographic effect contributed an increase of 6,000 to the overall change in the labour force.
  • In addition to the demographic effect the change in the size of the labour force is influenced by changes in participation. While the overall participation rate increased over the year by 0.4 percentage points to 60.6% in Q2 2016, the net result of changes in individual age groups for the same period was a positive participation effect of 26,800. See tables 1 and 8.
  • Of those persons not in the labour force, the number classified as being in the potential additional labour force was 39,200, representing a decrease of 300 (-0.8%) in the year to the second quarter of 2016. See table 1.

 

International Comparisons

  • The employment rate in Ireland increased by 1.4 percentage points to 63.6% over the year to Q1 2016. The employment rate in the EU-28 in Q1 2016 was 65.7%. See table 11.
  • The unadjusted unemployment rate among the EU-28 countries in the first quarter of 2016 was 9.2%, while the comparable rate in Ireland was 8.4%.  The highest unemployment rates among the EU-28 countries in Q1 2016 were recorded in Greece and Spain (24.9% and 21.0% respectively), while the lowest rate of 4.4% was recorded in the Czech Republic. See table 11.
  • The latest figures available at the time of finalising this release indicate that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the EU-28 for June 2016 was 8.6% compared to the revised seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment of 8.4% for Ireland for the same period.

 

Implications of Census 2016 Preliminary Results

The QNHS results are weighted using population estimates which are generated on an ongoing basis. Historically, every 5 years, the Census of Population results have been used to revise these population estimates, and QNHS results are revised as a consequence.

The population concept of usual residence is used for the QNHS, i.e. all persons usually resident and present in the State plus absent persons who are usually resident in Ireland but are temporarily away from home and outside the State.

The preliminary total for the population enumerated on Census Night 24th April 2016 relates to the de facto population, meaning the population recorded on the night of Sunday, 24 April 2016, together with persons who arrived on the morning of Monday, 25 April 2016 not having been enumerated elsewhere. The figures, therefore, include visitors present on Census Night as well as those in residence, while usual residents temporarily absent from the area are excluded.

The preliminary total for this de facto population enumerated on Census Night 24th April 2016, was 4,757,976 persons while the existing estimate for the usually resident population for April 2016 is 4,673,700 as detailed in the 2016 Population and Migration Estimates release. There is a difference, therefore, of just over 84,000 between the two figures.

The CSO will be revising the annual population estimates for 2012 to 2016 based on the final Census count of the usually resident population. However, this work cannot commence until the final Census results are available due to the fact that the generation of alternative population estimates requires detailed demographic information such as the number of usually resident persons broken down by nationality, age group and gender. The final Census count is expected to become available in March/April 2017.

The extent of these revisions on labour market indicators will ultimately depend on how the difference between the final Census usually resident count and the existing population estimate is distributed across age groups, regions, time, etc. Estimates of persons employed and unemployed will increase in line with the higher population totals. However, in terms of trends the impacts would be expected to be relatively low as the population difference is introduced incrementally over the period. In the case of rates (unemployment rate, employment rate and participation rate) these are likely to have the lowest level of difference as the population increase would be reflected both in the denominator and the numerator. In the case of the unemployment rate for example, changes in both the numbers unemployed and the numbers in the labour force could leave unemployment rates relatively unchanged.

Once the revision work has been completed the CSO will issue an explanatory note on the subject along with the revised labour market estimates.

Table 1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex and ILO Economic Status
          '000
ILO Economic StatusQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
In labour force 1,192.01,185.11,196.51,209.11,195.01,185.91,208.3
In employment 1,030.61,049.41,064.91,081.81,072.01,068.41,091.0
full-time 885.2912.8923.3942.4933.9925.1943.3
part-time 145.4136.6141.6139.4138.1143.4147.8
of which:part-time, not underemployed86.883.486.690.090.596.597.4
  part-time, underemployed58.653.255.049.447.646.850.4
Unemployed 161.3135.7131.6127.3123.0117.5117.2
seeking full-time work/future job-starter146.7125.6123.7116.6113.2109.7107.5
seeking part-time work 6.6[3.8][3.2][5.1][4.7][3.7]5.2
seeking work as self-employed8.06.34.75.6[5.1][4.1][4.5]
Not in labour force 569.7580.3566.6560.6576.0589.4574.1
Potential additional labour force 28.621.522.019.117.918.021.4
Others 541.1558.8544.6541.5558.1571.4552.7
Total males aged 15 or over 1,761.71,765.41,763.11,769.71,771.01,775.41,782.4
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)13.611.511.110.610.410.09.8
Participation rate % 67.767.167.968.367.566.867.8
           
Females       
In labour force 964.1957.2973.5976.9975.5970.0994.4
In employment 870.9880.1893.8901.2911.1908.1923.9
full-time 566.1576.8584.8591.7597.6595.2609.7
part-time 304.8303.3309.0309.4313.4312.9314.2
of which:part-time, not underemployed233.7241.8244.3252.3257.0260.6250.2
  part-time, underemployed71.161.664.657.156.452.364.0
Unemployed 93.277.179.775.764.461.970.5
seeking full-time work/future job-starter71.959.361.158.146.545.650.7
seeking part-time work 20.216.917.316.116.815.118.8
seeking work as self-employed*******
Not in labour force 868.1884.6870.5866.7872.0880.7860.9
Potential additional labour force 23.217.817.515.813.612.717.8
Others 844.9866.8853.0850.9858.4868.0843.0
Total females aged 15 or over 1,832.21,841.91,844.01,843.51,847.51,850.81,855.3
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)9.78.18.27.86.66.47.1
Participation rate % 52.652.052.853.052.852.453.6
           
All persons       
In labour force 2,156.12,142.42,169.92,186.02,170.52,156.02,202.7
In employment 1,901.61,929.51,958.71,983.01,983.01,976.52,014.9
full-time 1,451.31,489.61,508.11,534.11,531.51,520.31,553.0
part-time 450.3439.9450.6448.8451.6456.2461.9
of which:part-time, not underemployed320.6325.1331.0342.4347.5357.1347.5
  part-time, underemployed129.7114.8119.6106.5104.099.1114.4
Unemployed 254.5212.8211.2203.0187.5179.5187.8
seeking full-time work/future job-starter218.6185.0184.7174.7159.7155.3158.2
seeking part-time work 26.820.720.421.121.518.824.0
seeking work as self-employed9.17.16.17.16.2[5.3]5.6
Not in labour force 1,437.71,464.91,437.21,427.31,448.01,470.21,434.9
Potential additional labour force 51.839.339.534.931.530.739.2
Others 1,386.01,425.61,397.61,392.41,416.61,439.51,395.7
Total persons aged 15 or over 3,593.93,607.33,607.13,613.33,618.53,626.13,637.7
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)11.910.09.89.38.78.48.6
Participation rate % 60.059.460.260.560.059.560.6
           
Employment rate % (Persons aged 15-64)       
Male  66.367.668.769.569.068.769.9
Female  56.456.957.658.259.058.659.5
Total persons  61.362.263.163.863.963.664.7
See Background Notes for further information regarding minor modifications to calculation of unemployment rate
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 1 (XLS 68KB)
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Table 2 Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by sex and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector
          '000
Economic sector (NACE Rev.2)Q2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing96.495.399.299.194.996.6103.8
           
B-FTotal Industry268.4292.2295.8304.9296.0302.3307.7
B-EIndustry170.8178.6177.0185.0177.6178.9179.5
FConstruction97.6113.5118.8119.9118.4123.3128.2
           
G-UTotal Services665.2660.2666.7674.2678.4666.8676.3
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles136.2138.9138.5143.1142.8140.6143.0
HTransportation and storage 72.873.077.175.277.779.079.7
IAccommodation and food service activities65.960.463.761.365.567.065.3
JInformation and communication59.457.557.058.159.460.258.7
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities47.050.850.847.745.446.548.8
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities69.564.469.473.171.064.566.0
NAdministrative and support service activities33.731.132.432.935.735.737.8
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security49.150.650.751.551.049.851.0
PEducation40.343.540.440.238.637.537.1
QHuman health and social work activities49.448.246.749.147.946.045.9
R-UOther NACE activities 41.941.840.042.143.440.142.9
Not stated**[3.2][3.6]***
Total males1,030.61,049.41,064.91,081.81,072.01,068.41,091.0
        
Females       
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing13.512.513.313.611.512.712.6
           
B-FTotal Industry73.576.075.974.879.079.184.2
B-EIndustry64.967.768.867.370.871.175.5
FConstruction8.68.37.17.58.28.08.7
           
G-UTotal Services782.8790.4801.4809.5816.6812.7823.5
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles133.3131.6133.3130.7136.6131.9131.2
HTransportation and storage 17.717.615.714.816.116.015.2
IAccommodation and food service activities71.771.973.078.677.675.580.4
JInformation and communication22.624.325.325.625.925.126.0
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities50.351.651.952.152.454.252.8
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities44.644.846.349.548.345.849.0
NAdministrative and support service activities30.531.031.435.031.432.532.3
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security47.547.249.649.848.148.854.0
PEducation111.0110.7110.3106.4114.9116.4113.8
QHuman health and social work activities196.7198.4202.4204.3205.9202.6205.1
R-UOther NACE activities 57.161.262.262.759.363.963.6
Not stated**[3.2][3.2][3.9]**
Total females870.9880.1893.8901.2911.1908.1923.9
           
All persons       
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing109.8107.8112.5112.7106.4109.3116.4
           
B-FTotal Industry342.0368.2371.7379.7375.0381.4391.9
B-EIndustry235.7246.3245.8252.3248.4250.0255.0
FConstruction106.3121.8125.9127.4126.6131.3136.9
           
G-UTotal Services1,448.01,450.51,468.11,483.81,495.01,479.61,499.7
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles269.5270.5271.7273.8279.4272.5274.1
HTransportation and storage 90.590.792.890.093.895.094.9
IAccommodation and food service activities137.7132.3136.7139.9143.1142.4145.8
JInformation and communication81.981.882.383.785.485.284.7
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities97.2102.3102.799.897.8100.7101.6
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities114.1109.3115.8122.6119.3110.3115.0
NAdministrative and support service activities64.262.163.868.067.168.270.1
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security96.697.8100.4101.399.198.5105.0
PEducation151.2154.2150.7146.6153.5153.9150.9
QHuman health and social work activities246.1246.5249.1253.4253.7248.7251.1
R-UOther NACE activities 99.0103.0102.1104.8102.7104.1106.5
Not stated**6.46.76.6[6.3]7.0
Total persons1,901.61,929.51,958.71,983.01,983.01,976.52,014.9
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 2 (XLS 70KB)
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Table 3 Seasonally adjusted series of persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex, ILO Economic Status and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector
          '000
ILO Economic Status/NACE Rev.2 Economic SectorQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
In labour force1,190.21,194.51,194.91,197.41,198.71,195.61,206.8
In employment1,033.51,058.91,067.21,072.51,069.41,078.81,092.5
 of which:Full-time 889.4920.1928.2937.2926.1933.2948.4
  Part-time 144.8137.9140.8137.9139.4144.5146.7
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing95.096.997.797.796.198.3102.2
B-EIndustry171.9179.4178.2184.3176.5179.5180.7
FConstruction97.7114.5118.6118.6119.1124.3127.8
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles137.1138.9139.5142.7142.0140.9144.0
HTransportation and storage 72.472.776.976.177.378.579.5
IAccommodation and food service activities66.561.264.360.265.367.865.9
JInformation and communication59.057.856.858.558.960.358.8
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities46.851.350.747.345.546.948.6
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities69.864.669.972.670.765.365.9
NAdministrative and support service activities33.931.632.532.535.336.437.9
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security49.850.750.951.251.150.051.0
PEducation41.043.141.240.438.037.337.8
QHuman health and social work activities49.248.946.847.948.346.646.2
R-UOther NACE activities 41.841.739.841.344.440.242.7
Unemployed158.2136.3128.9125.8126.8117.8114.9
Not in labour force572.9569.5569.9570.6573.8578.0577.5
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)13.411.510.910.610.79.99.6
Participation rate %67.567.767.767.767.667.467.6
        
Females       
In labour force959.3966.4968.1971.6976.4980.2988.6
In employment870.4886.4893.3899.2907.0914.7923.3
 of which:Full-time 565.5581.8584.2589.1595.7600.5608.8
  Part-time 305.4303.9309.7310.0311.5313.5315.1
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing13.412.813.313.211.713.012.5
B-EIndustry65.167.968.867.870.171.075.8
FConstruction8.78.67.17.57.98.38.7
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles134.2133.4134.0129.1135.8133.5131.8
HTransportation and storage 17.517.415.715.215.815.815.3
IAccommodation and food service activities71.574.372.776.078.078.080.2
JInformation and communication22.324.825.125.825.525.625.9
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities50.251.851.951.652.854.452.9
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities44.945.346.848.648.246.449.5
NAdministrative and support service activities31.231.932.233.431.233.533.2
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security46.847.948.749.049.149.552.9
PEducation108.6108.4108.2111.9114.0113.9111.8
QHuman health and social work activities196.8199.9202.6204.6203.8204.2205.4
R-UOther NACE activities 57.161.362.161.560.664.063.4
Unemployed89.979.477.371.568.663.768.1
Not in labour force873.7874.9876.0872.9870.7870.1866.3
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)9.48.28.07.47.06.56.9
Participation rate %52.352.552.552.752.953.053.3
           
All persons       
In labour force2,149.72,160.22,163.32,167.92,177.32,174.02,195.6
In employment1,902.01,946.21,958.91,970.61,978.31,994.42,014.4
 of which:Full-time 1,454.11,503.91,511.11,522.11,525.81,536.11,555.0
  Part-time 450.4441.2450.4448.3451.0457.6461.6
AAgriculture, forestry and fishing108.3109.3111.0111.1108.0110.7114.8
B-EIndustry236.6247.1247.7251.6246.5250.5257.3
FConstruction106.3123.0125.7126.1127.1132.4136.4
GWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles271.1272.5273.1272.9276.7274.7275.4
HTransportation and storage 90.090.692.390.494.095.094.2
IAccommodation and food service activities137.8135.4136.7136.4143.4145.9145.8
JInformation and communication81.682.382.284.184.485.684.9
K-LFinancial, insurance and real estate activities97.2102.8102.898.898.4101.1101.7
MProfessional, scientific and technical activities114.4112.0116.4120.1117.8113.7115.6
NAdministrative and support service activities64.563.564.266.067.269.870.6
OPublic administration and defence; compulsory social security96.498.3100.1100.1100.199.1104.6
PEducation149.8151.5149.5152.2151.8151.3149.8
QHuman health and social work activities246.2248.9249.2252.1252.5250.9251.4
R-UOther NACE activities 98.6103.0101.6103.8104.2104.1106.0
Unemployed248.0215.7206.2197.3195.3181.5182.9
Not in labour force1,446.61,443.91,445.81,444.61,444.11,447.91,443.5
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)11.610.09.69.19.08.48.4
Participation rate %59.860.059.960.060.160.160.3
See Background Notes for further detail. The not stated group presented in Table 2 has not been separately seasonally adjusted.
See Background Notes for further information regarding minor modifications to calculation of unemployment rate and coherence with monthly unemployment estimates
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 3 (XLS 75KB)
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Table 4 Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by sex and occupation (SOC2010)
          '000
Broad occupational groupQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
1.Managers, directors and senior officials104.6106.2108.3107.3108.6106.9111.6
2.Professionals151.5146.3153.5153.7150.8154.6156.1
3.Associate professional and technical132.3134.6136.3138.3141.7130.9135.6
4.Administrative and secretarial40.141.142.643.539.439.341.3
5.Skilled trades268.9283.0287.6289.1285.7288.2289.4
6.Caring, leisure and other services27.229.227.727.926.626.426.9
7.Sales and customer service54.858.458.860.656.559.560.2
8.Process, plant and machine operatives119.8120.6125.1131.2128.9129.0131.5
9.Elementary125.7123.8122.6123.8124.6123.9127.2
Other/Not stated5.66.2*6.49.19.711.3
Total males1,030.61,049.41,064.91,081.81,072.01,068.41,091.0
        
Females       
1.Managers, directors and senior officials49.750.155.155.156.557.256.9
2.Professionals200.9198.9202.9204.0208.8202.6207.5
3.Associate professional and technical86.391.595.196.095.5101.797.2
4.Administrative and secretarial173.8165.5163.4165.2167.1167.5167.2
5.Skilled trades27.229.128.526.126.930.031.7
6.Caring, leisure and other services118.8128.1129.5133.9135.2132.8136.6
7.Sales and customer service101.8103.9104.9104.4104.1101.5103.2
8.Process, plant and machine operatives20.021.520.718.720.120.821.8
9.Elementary89.187.490.992.789.386.393.8
 Other/Not stated[3.4][4.1][2.9]5.17.47.78.0
Total females870.9880.1893.8901.2911.1908.1923.9
           
All persons       
1.Managers, directors and senior officials154.3156.3163.4162.4165.1164.1168.5
2.Professionals352.3345.2356.4357.7359.6357.2363.6
3.Associate professional and technical218.6226.1231.4234.3237.3232.6232.7
4.Administrative and secretarial213.9206.6205.9208.7206.6206.8208.5
5.Skilled trades296.1312.1316.1315.2312.6318.1321.1
6.Caring, leisure and other services146.0157.3157.1161.8161.8159.1163.5
7.Sales and customer service156.6162.4163.7165.0160.6161.0163.4
8.Process, plant and machine operatives139.9142.2145.8149.9149.0149.8153.3
9.Elementary214.8211.2213.5216.6213.9210.2221.0
 Other/Not stated9.010.35.411.416.617.419.3
Total persons1,901.61,929.51,958.71,983.01,983.01,976.52,014.9
Note: From Q1 2011 occupational estimates are now captured and coded on the basis of the newer UK SOC2010 classification.
The CSO has re-coded previous quarters to 2007 inclusive on the basis of the text string captured under the old UK SOC90
classification. As with the introduction of any new classification comparability of estimates over time can be impacted - users
should bear this in mind when comparing results from quarters prior to Q1 2011 to those from Q1 2011 onwards.
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 4 (XLS 58KB)
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Table 5 Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by sex and employment status
          '000
Employment statusQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
 Self employed (with paid employees)69.271.272.772.271.070.271.7
 Self employed (with no paid employees)184.7184.1189.1184.3183.1186.0188.8
 Total self employed253.8255.2261.9256.6254.1256.3260.5
 Employee769.7788.7796.2817.9811.5806.0822.2
 Assisting relative7.15.56.97.46.46.18.4
 Total males1,030.61,049.41,064.91,081.81,072.01,068.41,091.0
        
Females       
 Self employed (with paid employees)19.918.520.921.221.922.220.9
 Self employed (with no paid employees)42.045.144.745.345.247.047.1
 Total self employed61.963.665.666.567.269.268.0
 Employee802.4809.8819.8826.3835.3830.4846.8
 Assisting relative6.76.78.48.48.68.49.1
 Total females870.9880.1893.8901.2911.1908.1923.9
           
All persons       
 Self employed (with paid employees)89.089.693.693.492.992.592.6
 Self employed (with no paid employees)226.7229.2233.9229.6228.4233.0235.9
 Total self employed315.7318.8327.5323.0321.3325.5328.5
 Employee1,572.01,598.61,615.91,644.21,646.71,636.41,669.0
 Assisting relative13.812.215.315.715.014.517.4
 Total persons1,901.61,929.51,958.71,983.01,983.01,976.52,014.9
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 5 (XLS 48KB)
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Table 6 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex and duration of unemployment (ILO)
          '000
Duration of unemployment (ILO)Q2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
 Less than 1 year56.445.547.147.844.240.844.6
 1 year and over101.888.081.075.774.770.868.2
 Not stated[3.2]*[3.4][3.8][4.2][6.0][4.5]
 Total males161.3135.7131.6127.3123.0117.5117.2
        
Females       
 Less than 1 year47.237.040.939.835.030.440.5
 1 year and over44.839.237.634.127.529.927.7
 Not stated*******
 Total females93.277.179.775.764.461.970.5
           
All persons       
 Less than 1 year103.682.588.187.579.271.285.0
 1 year and over146.5127.2118.6109.8102.1100.695.9
 Not stated4.4[3.2]4.65.76.17.76.9
 Total persons254.5212.8211.2203.0187.5179.5187.8
           
Long-term unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)6.86.05.55.04.74.74.4
See Background Notes for further information regarding minor modifications to calculation of unemployment rate
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 6 (XLS 46KB)
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Table 7 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by ILO economic status, sex, age group and quarter
             '000
 Employed Unemployed In labour force
   Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16 Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16 Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16
Males           
 15-1913.216.321.2 8.47.67.3 21.623.928.4
 20-2462.060.966.5 20.917.015.5 83.077.982.0
 Total 15-24 (Youths)75.277.387.6 29.424.622.8 104.6101.8110.4
 25-34244.3240.3237.0 46.135.230.3 290.4275.5267.3
 35-44288.6298.1304.0 37.630.026.8 326.1328.1330.8
 45-54236.2244.9250.7 28.625.722.3 264.9270.6273.0
 55-5987.193.597.3 11.89.29.3 99.0102.7106.7
 60-6457.364.965.9 7.26.45.0 64.571.370.9
 65+41.846.048.4 *** 42.446.549.1
 Total males1,030.61,064.91,091.0 161.3131.6117.2 1,192.01,196.51,208.3
            
Females           
 15-1911.713.120.8 7.55.46.6 19.318.527.5
 20-2455.654.960.0 15.711.910.0 71.366.770.0
 Total 15-24 (Youths)67.368.080.8 23.217.316.6 90.585.397.4
 25-34246.6242.1236.8 26.520.818.3 273.1262.9255.1
 35-44243.4249.1259.8 19.417.518.4 262.7266.7278.2
 45-54188.8202.0203.9 15.916.011.3 204.7218.0215.1
 55-5968.672.779.0 5.44.7[3.1] 74.077.482.1
 60-6440.240.744.5 [2.4][2.7]* 42.643.446.9
 65+16.119.119.2 *** 16.519.719.6
 Total females870.9893.8923.9 93.279.770.5 964.1973.5994.4
              
All persons           
 15-1924.929.442.0 15.913.013.9 40.942.455.9
 20-24117.6115.8126.4 36.628.925.5 154.3144.7151.9
 Total 15-24 (Youths)142.5145.2168.4 52.641.939.4 195.1187.1207.8
 25-34490.9482.4473.7 72.756.048.6 563.5538.4522.4
 35-44531.9547.2563.8 56.947.545.3 588.9594.8609.1
 45-54425.0446.9454.6 44.541.633.6 469.6488.6488.2
 55-59155.7166.3176.3 17.213.912.4 173.0180.2188.7
 60-6497.5105.6110.4 9.79.17.4 107.2114.7117.9
 65+58.065.167.6 *** 58.966.268.7
 Total persons1,901.61,958.72,014.9 254.5211.2187.8 2,156.12,169.92,202.7
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 7 (XLS 62KB)
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Table 8 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by key economic rates, sex, age group and quarter
             %
 Employment rate (15-64) Unemployment rate (15-74) Participation rate
   Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16 Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16 Q2 14Q2 15Q2 16
Males           
 15-199.211.214.3 39.031.825.5 15.016.419.1
 20-2449.850.956.5 25.221.818.9 66.565.169.6
 Total 15-24 (Youths)28.029.132.9 28.124.120.6 38.938.341.5
 25-3474.777.077.6 15.912.811.3 88.788.387.5
 35-4481.583.884.4 11.59.18.1 92.192.291.8
 45-5478.580.180.5 10.89.58.2 88.088.587.7
 55-5968.772.673.6 11.99.08.8 78.079.780.7
 60-6450.956.856.9 11.29.07.0 57.462.461.2
 65+::: 1.71.41.6 15.616.616.9
 Total males66.368.769.9 13.611.19.8 67.767.967.8
            
Females           
 15-198.79.514.8 39.029.224.1 14.313.519.5
 20-2446.447.954.3 22.017.814.3 59.658.263.3
 Total 15-24 (Youths)26.427.032.2 25.720.317.0 35.533.838.8
 25-3469.370.972.2 9.77.97.2 76.877.077.8
 35-4467.567.869.6 7.46.66.6 72.972.674.6
 45-5462.265.264.8 7.87.35.2 67.470.468.3
 55-5953.455.558.7 7.36.13.8 57.659.161.0
 60-6435.335.037.4 5.76.35.2 37.437.339.5
 65+::: 2.23.62.2 5.26.05.8
 Total females56.457.659.5 9.78.27.1 52.652.853.6
              
All persons           
 15-198.910.414.5 39.030.724.8 14.615.019.3
 20-2448.149.455.4 23.819.916.8 63.161.766.6
 Total 15-24 (Youths)27.228.032.6 26.922.419.0 37.336.140.2
 25-3471.973.874.8 12.910.49.3 82.582.482.5
 35-4474.475.776.9 9.78.07.4 82.482.283.1
 45-5470.372.672.6 9.58.56.9 77.779.478.0
 55-5961.064.066.1 10.07.76.6 67.769.370.7
 60-6443.045.847.0 9.08.06.3 47.349.750.2
 65+::: 1.82.11.8 10.010.911.0
 Total persons61.363.164.7 11.99.88.6 60.060.260.6
See Background Notes for further information regarding minor modifications to calculation of unemployment rate
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 8 (XLS 60KB)
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Table 9 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions and ILO Economic Status
           
RegionQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Border, Midland and Western       
 In employment ('000)476.8481.7492.3494.8494.4489.7498.6
 Unemployed ('000)73.160.957.858.954.153.452.7
 In labour force ('000)549.9542.6550.2553.7548.5543.1551.3
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)13.411.310.610.79.99.99.6
 Participation rate (%)57.957.658.458.758.257.558.3
Border       
 In employment ('000)185.0190.7193.1195.4195.0195.7196.9
 Unemployed ('000)27.721.520.019.918.618.219.7
 In labour force ('000)212.8212.2213.1215.2213.6213.9216.6
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)13.110.29.49.38.78.69.2
 Participation rate (%)55.055.756.256.856.556.357.0
Midland       
 In employment ('000)113.5114.0116.0119.2120.8117.4116.6
 Unemployed ('000)18.416.216.516.814.715.313.9
 In labour force ('000)131.8130.1132.5136.0135.4132.7130.6
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)14.112.512.512.410.911.610.7
 Participation rate (%)59.658.559.160.460.358.858.5
West       
 In employment ('000)178.3177.0183.3180.2178.6176.6185.0
 Unemployed ('000)27.023.221.322.220.819.919.1
 In labour force ('000)205.3200.2204.6202.4199.5196.5204.1
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)13.211.710.511.110.610.29.5
 Participation rate (%)60.259.160.359.758.858.059.7
           
Southern and Eastern       
 In employment ('000)1,424.81,447.81,466.41,488.21,488.61,486.81,516.4
 Unemployed ('000)181.5151.9153.4144.1133.4126.1135.1
 In labour force ('000)1,606.21,599.81,619.81,632.31,622.01,612.91,651.5
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)11.39.59.58.98.37.88.2
 Participation rate (%)60.760.060.861.160.660.161.3
Dublin       
 In employment ('000)576.4584.9591.8605.6610.4611.7617.5
 Unemployed ('000)64.156.251.852.250.045.554.2
 In labour force ('000)640.5641.1643.6657.8660.4657.2671.7
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)10.08.88.18.07.66.98.1
 Participation rate (%)63.062.162.263.263.262.964.0
Mid-East       
 In employment ('000)228.5234.6232.7231.2235.8231.4242.2
 Unemployed ('000)27.719.722.220.319.314.517.7
 In labour force ('000)256.2254.3254.9251.5255.1245.9259.9
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)10.97.88.78.17.65.96.9
 Participation rate (%)62.561.361.660.861.558.961.9
Mid-West       
 In employment ('000)148.0148.6152.3157.4153.1153.9157.6
 Unemployed ('000)22.516.719.116.914.113.214.6
 In labour force ('000)170.5165.4171.4174.4167.1167.1172.2
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)13.210.211.29.88.57.98.5
 Participation rate (%)57.856.258.259.557.157.158.3
South-East       
 In employment ('000)198.5201.9206.6207.4205.4204.4213.8
 Unemployed ('000)33.029.629.528.527.729.125.9
 In labour force ('000)231.5231.5236.1236.0233.1233.5239.6
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)14.312.812.612.111.912.510.8
 Participation rate (%)58.958.559.959.758.658.860.0
South-West       
 In employment ('000)273.3277.8283.0286.5283.9285.4285.4
 Unemployed ('000)34.229.730.926.122.423.722.7
 In labour force ('000)307.5307.5313.9312.7306.3309.1308.0
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)11.19.79.98.47.47.77.4
 Participation rate (%)58.058.259.559.358.158.458.3
           
State       
 In employment ('000)1,901.61,929.51,958.71,983.01,983.01,976.52,014.9
 Unemployed ('000)254.5212.8211.2203.0187.5179.5187.8
 In labour force ('000)2,156.12,142.42,169.92,186.02,170.52,156.02,202.7
 Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)11.910.09.89.38.78.48.6
 Participation rate (%)60.059.460.260.560.059.560.6
See Background Notes for further information regarding minor modifications to calculation of unemployment rate
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 9 (XLS 67KB)
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Table 10 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by Principal Economic Status (PES)
          '000
Principal Economic StatusQ2 14Q1 15Q2 15Q3 15Q4 15Q1 16Q2 16
Males       
 At work1,001.11,025.51,038.51,052.21,050.61,044.81,058.4
 Unemployed197.6177.9164.0165.4158.3154.4149.8
 Student211.2211.2207.4197.6204.2212.7206.9
 Home duties11.010.69.511.510.410.39.2
 Retired256.8258.4259.3259.9261.1266.3266.5
 Others84.081.984.483.186.486.991.7
 Total males1,761.71,765.41,763.11,769.71,771.01,775.41,782.4
        
Females       
 At work841.5851.3864.3870.6879.8881.3882.7
 Unemployed100.585.281.081.571.468.372.0
 Student200.5208.1202.5191.1204.4206.8201.9
 Home duties467.1464.9467.2465.6448.0444.7445.5
 Retired153.8161.7159.0164.5170.0175.4177.8
 Others68.970.769.970.173.974.275.4
 Total females1,832.21,841.91,844.01,843.51,847.51,850.81,855.3
           
All persons       
 At work1,842.61,876.81,902.81,922.81,930.51,926.11,941.1
 Unemployed298.1263.1245.0246.9229.6222.7221.8
 Student411.6419.3409.9388.8408.7419.6408.8
 Home duties478.1475.5476.7477.1458.4455.0454.6
 Retired410.5420.1418.3424.4431.1441.7444.3
 Others152.8152.5154.4153.2160.3161.1167.1
 Total persons3,593.93,607.33,607.13,613.33,618.53,626.13,637.7
Note: The Principal Economic Status (PES) classification is based on a respondent's own subjective assessment - see Background Notes.
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 10 (XLS 52KB)
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Table 11 Labour Force Survey results classified by ILO Economic Status for persons in EU member states
               %
  Employment rate % (15-64 years) Unemployment rate % (15-74 years) Participation rate % (15 years and over)
  Q1 14Q1 15Q1 16Annual change Q1 14Q1 15Q1 16Annual change Q1 14Q1 15Q1 16Annual change
     Q1 16 pp    Q1 16 pp    Q1 16 pp
EU2863.964.765.71.0 11.010.29.2-1.0 57.457.357.50.2
EU1564.765.466.30.9 11.210.59.6-0.9 57.857.757.90.2
Eurozone63.163.764.60.9 12.411.710.7-1.0 56.856.656.80.2
                
Belgium61.561.961.6-0.3 8.78.88.3-0.5 53.353.652.8-0.8
Bulgaria59.061.062.31.3 13.010.68.6-2.0 53.553.453.1-0.3
Czech Republic68.169.471.01.6 6.86.04.4-1.6 59.159.359.60.3
Denmark71.373.074.41.4 7.46.66.3-0.3 61.562.263.31.1
Germany73.273.774.20.5 5.45.04.5-0.5 60.26060.70.7
Estonia67.669.970.30.4 8.56.66.5-0.1 60.060.761.20.5
Ireland60.862.263.61.4 12.110.08.4-1.6 59.759.459.50.1
Greece48.549.250.91.7 27.926.724.9-1.8 51.951.652.00.4
Spain54.756.458.52.1 25.923.821.0-2.8 58.858.758.6-0.1
France63.463.363.70.4 10.610.810.7-0.1 56.256.056.00.0
Croatia 52.753.854.91.1 18.718.115.4-2.7 51.352.151.1-1.0
Italy55.155.556.30.8 13.613.012.1-0.9 49.048.949.00.1
Cyprus60.961.961.5-0.4 16.917.714.1-3.6 63.263.660.3-3.3
Latvia65.866.968.21.3 11.910.210.30.1 59.559.260.41.2
Lithuania64.266.068.32.3 12.410.08.4-1.6 58.858.659.81.2
Luxembourg66.266.265.3-0.9 6.57.35.9-1.4 60.560.658.4-2.2
Hungary60.662.465.12.7 8.37.86.0-1.8 53.154.155.11.0
Malta61.762.564.31.8 6.05.74.9-0.8 53.653.854.30.5
Netherlands72.473.674.00.4 8.17.56.8-0.7 64.464.464.0-0.4
Austria70.170.270.40.2 6.05.86.30.5 60.260.060.50.5
Poland60.361.963.71.8 10.68.67.0-1.6 56.156.056.10.1
Portugal 61.562.864.01.2 15.313.912.6-1.3 58.758.558.1-0.4
Romania59.559.159.80.7 7.27.46.6-0.8 53.752.952.7-0.2
Slovenia62.563.564.20.7 10.89.88.9-0.9 57.156.555.8-0.7
Slovakia60.261.964.12.2 14.112.410.4-2.0 59.259.559.80.3
Finland67.367.267.50.3 9.09.79.6-0.1 58.058.158.0-0.1
Sweden73.474.074.90.9 8.68.37.7-0.6 63.864.364.30.0
United Kingdom71.372.473.10.7 6.75.55.0-0.5 62.662.662.70.1
Source: Eurostat
Note:Trends in some member states may be affected by changes in methodology
 pp refers to percentage point change
 Eurozone consists of EU15 states (with the exceptions of Denmark, Sweden and United Kingdom), Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table 11 (XLS 48KB)
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Table A1 Estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over classified by nationality and ILO Economic Status
          '000
Nationality   ILO Economic Status Total
   In employmentUnemployedIn labour forceNot in labour force 
Q2 16         
Irish nationals 1,699.7152.41,852.11,280.2 3,132.3
Non-Irish nationals315.235.4350.6154.8 505.4
of which:      
 United Kingdom54.6[7.6]62.246.7 108.9
 EU15 excl. Irl and UK21.1*22.35.2 27.5
 EU15 to EU28143.413.7157.239.1 196.3
 Other96.112.9109.063.8 172.7
Total persons2,014.9187.82,202.71,434.9 3,637.7
        
Q2 15         
Irish nationals 1,667.8174.41,842.21,273.3 3,115.5
Non-Irish nationals290.936.8327.7163.9 491.6
of which:      
 United Kingdom52.28.560.745.4 106.1
 EU15 excl. Irl and UK19.6*20.87.3 28.1
 EU15 to EU28136.116.2152.342.2 194.5
 Other82.911.094.068.9 162.9
Total persons1,958.7211.22,169.91,437.2 3,607.1
           
Year on year changes       
Irish nationals 31.9-22.09.96.9 16.8
Non-Irish nationals24.3-1.422.9-9.1 13.8
of which:      
 United Kingdom2.4[-0.8]1.51.4 2.9
 EU15 excl. Irl and UK1.5*1.5-2.1 -0.6
 EU15 to EU287.3-2.54.9-3.1 1.7
 Other13.21.815.0-5.2 9.8
Total persons56.2-23.432.8-2.2 30.6
Note: Persons whose nationality is not stated are included with Irish nationals
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table A1 (XLS 51KB)
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Table A2 Number of employees in the Public Sector by sub-sector and in the Private Sector
           
      Q2 13Q2 14Q2 15Q1 16¹Q2 16
Civil Service39.438.838.342.9:
Defence9.79.69.69.5:
Garda Siochána13.212.912.712.8:
Education111.0110.1111.5112.7:
Regional bodies32.132.733.032.6:
Health123.6118.4120.7123.1:
Total Public Sector excluding Semi-State bodies329.1322.5325.8333.7:
           
Semi-State bodies 49.251.450.452.8:
           
Total Public Sector including Semi-State bodies378.2373.9376.2386.6:
           
Excluding Census 2016 temporary field staff     
Civil Service39.438.838.338.4:
Total Public Sector excluding Semi-State bodies329.1322.5325.8329.2:
Total Public Sector including Semi-State bodies378.2373.9376.2382.0:
           
Total Private Sector1,149.71,175.51,212.91,227.7:
¹Preliminary data
: Employment data from the Earnings, Hours Worked and Employment Cost Survey (EHECS) data not available at time of release. Updated series will be issued with the next Earnings and Labour Costs quarterly release.
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table A2 (XLS 41KB)
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Table A3 Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014July151,80090,300242,100 12.89.411.3
 August148,90090,800239,700 12.69.411.2
 September144,90089,100234,000 12.39.210.9
 October141,70085,400227,100 12.08.810.6
 November139,40082,300221,700 11.88.510.3
 December137,90080,900218,700 11.78.410.2
         
2015January138,00080,300218,300 11.68.310.2
 February136,60079,600216,200 11.58.310.1
 March134,30078,400212,700 11.38.19.9
 April131,20078,700209,900 11.18.19.8
 May128,70077,700206,400 10.88.09.6
 June126,90075,400202,300 10.77.89.4
 July125,20072,800198,100 10.57.59.2
 August125,60071,400197,100 10.67.49.1
 September126,50070,300196,800 10.67.29.1
 October127,30070,000197,300 10.77.29.1
 November127,40068,700196,200 10.77.09.1
 December125,50066,900192,500 10.66.98.9
         
2016January120,00063,800183,800 10.16.68.5
 February117,50063,000180,500 9.96.58.3
 March115,80064,200180,000 9.76.68.3
 April115,20066,500181,700 9.66.88.3
 May115,00068,100183,100 9.66.98.4
 June114,40069,700184,100 9.67.08.4
 July114,20068,900183,100 9.56.98.3
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table A3 (XLS 46KB)
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Table A4 Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014July26,90018,80045,700 26.520.623.7
 August26,80017,90044,600 26.319.423.0
 September26,30017,00043,200 25.618.522.3
 October26,20015,90042,100 25.217.521.6
 November26,10015,30041,500 25.017.121.3
 December26,10015,60041,700 24.617.521.4
         
2015January27,10016,30043,300 25.318.522.2
 February26,80016,40043,200 25.118.922.4
 March25,70016,00041,700 24.618.822.0
 April24,20015,50039,700 23.818.421.4
 May23,30015,10038,500 23.318.020.8
 June23,00014,90037,900 23.017.520.5
 July23,30015,00038,300 23.017.520.5
 August23,70015,10038,800 23.217.420.5
 September24,00015,10039,200 23.417.420.7
 October23,80014,70038,400 23.416.920.4
 November23,40014,10037,400 23.316.420.1
 December22,40013,20035,600 22.415.419.2
         
2016January21,30011,80033,100 21.213.817.8
 February21,00011,60032,500 20.613.317.2
 March20,90012,30033,200 20.113.617.1
 April21,60013,50035,200 20.014.217.3
 May21,90014,40036,300 20.014.817.6
 June21,90015,40037,300 20.215.918.2
 July21,60015,50037,100 19.615.817.8
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table A4 (XLS 46KB)
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Table A5 Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014July124,90071,500196,400 11.68.210.1
 August122,10072,900195,000 11.38.310.0
 September118,70072,100190,800 11.08.29.8
 October115,50069,500185,100 10.77.99.5
 November113,20067,000180,200 10.57.79.2
 December111,80065,300177,100 10.47.59.1
         
2015January110,90064,000174,900 10.37.39.0
 February109,80063,200173,000 10.27.28.8
 March108,60062,400171,000 10.07.18.7
 April107,00063,200170,200 9.97.28.7
 May105,40062,600168,000 9.77.18.5
 June103,90060,500164,400 9.66.98.3
 July101,90057,800159,800 9.46.68.1
 August102,00056,300158,300 9.46.48.0
 September102,50055,200157,600 9.46.28.0
 October103,50055,300158,900 9.56.28.0
 November104,10054,600158,700 9.66.18.0
 December103,10053,700156,800 9.56.07.9
         
2016January98,70052,000150,700 9.15.97.6
 February96,60051,400148,000 8.95.87.5
 March95,00051,900146,900 8.75.87.4
 April93,50053,000146,500 8.66.07.4
 May93,10053,700146,800 8.56.07.4
 June92,60054,300146,800 8.56.17.4
 July92,60053,400146,000 8.56.07.4
Open in Excel: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2 2016 Table A5 (XLS 46KB)
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Background Notes

Purpose of Survey

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) began in September 1997, replacing the annual April Labour Force Survey (LFS). The purpose of the survey is the production of quarterly labour force estimates and occasional reports on special social topics. The survey meets the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 577/98, adopted in March 1998, which requires the introduction of quarterly labour force surveys in EU member states.

Reference Period

Information is collected continuously throughout the year from households surveyed each week in each quarter. Up to and including the fourth quarter of 2008 the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) operated on a seasonal quarter basis since its establishment in Q4 1997. As of the first quarter of 2009 the QNHS is now undertaken on a calendar quarter basis.

The reference quarters for survey results are:

Q1 - January to March, Q2 - April to June, Q3 - July to September and Q4 - October to December.

Data Collection

Information is collected on tablet computers, using computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) software.

Sample Design

A two-stage sample design is used. A new sample was introduced in Q4 2012 following the 2011 Census of Population. The sample frame of households is clustered into blocks (small areas) with each block containing a minimum of 60 occupied households on the night of the 2011 Census of Population. The sample frame is stratified using administrative county and population density. In the first stage 1,300 blocks are selected using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling and in the second stage 20 households are selected using Simple Random Sampling (SRS). This ensures that each household in the sample frame has an equal probability of selection and results in a total quarterly sample of 26,000 households. The actual achieved sample varies over time depending on the level of response.

The number of valid responding households in Q2 2016 was 16,420.

Households are asked to take part in the survey for five consecutive quarters and are then replaced by other households in the same block. Thus, one fifth of the households in the survey are replaced each quarter and the QNHS sample involves an overlap of 80% between consecutive quarters and 20% between the same quarter in consecutive years. As the new sample based on the 2011 Census of Population was introduced incrementally across each quarter from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013, the new sample is fully effective from Q4 2013.

The survey results are weighted to agree with population estimates broken down by age, sex and region and are also calibrated to nationality control totals.  The population estimates for April of each year are published in a separate release.

Statistical significance

All estimates based on sample surveys are subject to error, some of which is measurable. Where an estimate is statistically significantly different from another estimate it means that we can be 95% confident that differences between those two estimates are not due to sampling error.

Usual residence and de facto population concepts

Up to and including Q1 2006 the annual population estimates were calculated using the de facto definition of population (i.e. all persons present in the state). Since Q2 2006 a new concept of usual residence has been used, i.e. all persons usually resident and present in the state plus absent persons who are usually resident in Ireland but are temporarily away from home and outside the state.                      

ILO Labour Force Classification

The primary classification used for the QNHS results is the ILO (International Labour Office) labour force classification.  Labour Force Survey data on this basis have been published since 1988.  The ILO classification distinguishes the following main subgroups of the population aged 15 or over:

In Employment: Persons who worked in the week before the survey for one hour or more for payment or profit, including work on the family farm or business and all persons who had a job but were not at work because of illness, holidays etc. in the week.

Unemployed: Persons who, in the week before the survey, were without work and available for work within the next two weeks, and had taken specific steps, in the preceding four weeks, to find work. It should be noted that as per Eurostat’s operational implementation, the upper age limit for classifying a person as unemployed is 74 years.

Inactive Population (not in labour  force): All other persons.

The labour force comprises persons employed plus unemployed.

Participation, Employment and Unemployment Rates

The rates given in this release are based on the ILO classification.  The Participation Rate is the number of persons in the labour force expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 or over. The Employment Rate is the number of employed aged 15 to 64 expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 to 64. 

To ensure coherence with Unemployment Rates produced by Eurostat, the CSO has introduced methodological changes as of Q2 2015 in the calculation of these rates. Previously the Unemployment Rate was calculated as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the total labour force aged 15 and over. The changes introduced limit the labour force to persons aged 15-74 and this excludes a small number of persons aged 75 and over in employment from the total labour force used in the calculation. The overall impact of this change is minimal.

Duration of Unemployment

The duration of unemployment is the length of time since a person last had a job or began looking for work, whichever is more recent. The long-term unemployment rate is the number of persons unemployed for one year or more expressed as a percentage of the total labour force aged 15 to 74 years.

Part-time Underemployment

The calculation of part-time underemployment is based on ILO and Eurostat recommendations and uses the following criteria to derive underemployment:

1.    Working part-time

2.    Willing to work additional hours

3.    Available to work additional hours

This indicator is only available from quarter 3 2008 onwards as estimates prior to that quarter were based on one single question which included the need for the person to be looking for additional work. From quarter 3 2008 the indicator is derived from a series of separate questions which allow this requirement to be excluded.

Potential Additional Labour Force

The Potential Additional Labour Force (PALF) is the sum of the two groups ‘persons seeking work but not immediately available’ and ‘persons available for work but not seeking’. Persons in the PALF are not part of the standard labour force, which encompasses only employed and unemployed people but however they have a stronger attachment to the labour market than other persons not in the labour force. The new indicators have been defined by the European statistical office (Eurostat) following extensive international discussion regarding appropriate indicators to supplement the unemployment rate.

Further background information regarding the methodology and approach adopted by Eurostat in building these new indicators can be found at the link below. European wide and individual country results are also available from this link: Click here

Principal Economic Status Classification

Results are also available using the Principal Economic Status (PES) classification which was used in the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population.  The PES classification is based on a single question in which respondents are asked what is their usual situation with regard to employment and given the following response categories:

 • At work

• Unemployed

• Student

• Engaged on home duties

• Retired

• Other.

NACE Industrial Classification

The QNHS sectoral employment figures are based on the EU NACE Rev. 2 (Nomenclature generale des activites economique dans les Communautes europeennes) classification as defined in Council Regulation (EC) no 1893/2006.  Fourteen NACE sub-categories are distinguished in Table 2 of this release. From Q1 2009 NACE Rev. 2 has been adopted as the primary classification of industrial sectors for use in QNHS outputs. From Q4 1997 to Q4 2008 the NACE Rev. 1.1 classification had been in use.

NACE Rev. 2 classification is more detailed than the NACE Rev. 1.1 classification. In particular more sections are now identified for services activities with the aim of better capturing economic activity within services. In cases where there is a direct one to one correspondence (e.g. section H ‘Hotels and restaurants’ in NACE Rev. 1.1 directly corresponds to section I ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ sector in NACE Rev. 2) then the two different series can be expected to be broadly comparable.

However, the series will not be exactly the same, as the process of applying NACE Rev. 2 involved a very detailed recoding process whereby the new NACE classification was applied to each record in each quarter. The detailed nature of this process means it should be expected that even in the case of a one to one correspondence between a NACE Rev. 2 and NACE Rev. 1.1 section; minor differences in the level of the estimates may be seen.

To facilitate analysis and the running of seasonal adjustment on the time series NACE Rev. 2 estimates have been produced from Q1 1998 onwards. As of Q2 2009 only NACE Rev. 2 estimates will be published.

Occupation Classification

As a result of changes to the European regulations governing the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (implemented in Ireland using the QNHS) the CSO is obliged to report occupational coding data to Eurostat based on the new Europe wide classification ISCO-08 from Q1 2011 onwards. To allow this requirement to be met the CSO has changed to using UK SOC2010 as the primary classification used in collecting the data. ISCO-08 is then derived from UK SOC2010. This change is also being implemented for the Census 2011 results.

The previously used classification for publication purposes in Ireland was UK SOC1990 and this cannot be directly compared to the new UK SOC2010 classification as all occupations have been reclassified accordingly.  This newer classification reflects the evolution over a period of time of certain occupational areas which were developing rapidly, both in terms of their scale and the complexity of work organisation. One particular example which highlights the impact of these changes on published results is the reclassifying of farmers from the major occupation grouping of ‘Managers and administrators’ in SOC1990 to the major occupation grouping of ‘Skilled trades’ in SOC2010.

Results for occupations coded to the new SOC2010 classification have now been recoded for historical quarters back to Q1 2007 to provide a longer and consistent time series for users.

Further information regarding SOC 2010 is available from this link: Click here

NUTS2 and NUTS3 Regions

The regional classifications in this release are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat.  The NUTS3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994. The NUTS2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS3 regions. The composition of the regions is set out below.

Border, Midland and Western NUTS2 Region      Southern and Eastern NUTS2 Region          
Border Cavan Dublin Dublin City
  Donegal   Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
  Leitrim   Fingal
  Louth   South Dublin
  Monaghan    
  Sligo Mid-East Kildare
      Meath
Midland Laois   Wicklow
  Longford Mid-West Clare
  Offaly   Limerick City
  Westmeath   Limerick County
      North Tipperary
West Galway City    
  Galway County South-East Carlow
  Mayo   Kilkenny
  Roscommon   South Tipperary
      Waterford City
      Waterford County
      Wexford
       
    South-West Cork City
      Cork County
      Kerry

 

Seasonal Adjustment Methodology

To correct for typical seasonal patterns, the series presented in Table 3 have been seasonally adjusted. Since Q1 2011 the seasonal adjustment of data from the QNHS is completed by applying the X-12-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. Seasonal adjustment is conducted using the direct approach, where each individual series is independently adjusted.  As a result of this direct seasonal adjustment approach it should be noted that the sum of any component series may not be equal to seasonally adjusted series to which these components belong, e.g. the seasonally adjusted number of males in employment and the seasonally adjusted number of females in employment will not necessarily add up to the total employment on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The X-12-ARIMA method has the X-11 moving averages process at its core, but builds on this by providing options for pre-treating the series using a regARIMA approach for prior adjustment and series extension. In essence this methodology will estimate seasonal factors while taking account of calendar effects (e.g timing of Easter), outliers, temporary changes and level shifts.

For additional information on the use of X-12-ARIMA see detailed note in the Q1 2011 QNHS release.

Monthly Unemployment Estimates

Monthly unemployment estimates were introduced by the CSO in June 2015 for reference month May. The latest monthly unemployment estimates have been revised with the publication of new QNHS benchmark estimates for this quarter. These revisions are included in Tables A3, A4 and A5 of this release.

In line with Eurostat practice, the seasonally adjusted quarterly unemployment volumes and rates included in Table 3 of this release are now calculated as the average of the relevant 3 months of the quarter from the new monthly unemployment series. This approach ensures consistency between these new seasonally adjusted monthly series and the seasonally adjusted quarterly series. The overall impact of this change is minimal.

Reliability of Estimates Presented

Estimates for number of persons where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables.

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. These cells are presented with parentheses [ ].

In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.

Calculation of Rates and Estimates of Change

Rates and estimates of change presented in this release are calculated from whole unrounded numbers. Due to rounding, these may differ from the rates and estimates of change calculated from the rounded volumes presented in the tables.

Interpretation of volume and rate changes

The overall change in the number of people employed, unemployed, in the labour force and not in the labour force is a function both of changes in the population as well as changes in the proportion of people with that status.  Therefore, in interpreting changes in the volume of persons who are employed, unemployed etc, both changes in population and changes in the relevant rates should be considered.

In recent years there has been a natural decline in the number of people in younger age groups arising from the falling number of births through the 1980’s until 1994 when a low of 48,255 births was recorded (compared with 74,278 in 2009). For example there were 326,030 people born in Ireland between 1982 and 1986 and, all other things being equal, these people would have been in the 20-24 age group in 2006. However between 1986 and 1990 there were nearly 50,000 fewer births which would create a natural decrease in the 20-24 age group of close to 50,000 between 2006 and 2010.

In addition to natural changes in population, net migration has been a significant feature of population change in Ireland in recent years and net migration has also been most heavily concentrated in younger age groups. Evidence shows that migration is also most heavily concentrated in the 20-24 and 25-34 age groups.  As a result of both natural decrease and net outward migration, the population of persons in the younger age groups has fallen and this should be borne in mind when considering the changes in the number of people in these age groups who are employed, unemployed and in the labour force.

 Additional Data Series

Additional data series previously included in the QNHS release can still be accessed through the CSO website and are available from this link: Click here

Labour market data can also be accessed from Statbank, the CSO’s main data dissemination service, through the CSO website from this link: Click here

Participating Households

The Central Statistics Office wishes to thank the participating households for their co-operation in agreeing to take part in the survey and for facilitating the collection of the relevant data.

 

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Tel:
(+353) 21 453 5000
E-Mail:
information@cso.ie

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