Employment rates for those aged 25-64 years old increased as the level of educational attainment increased with this relationship evident in both sexes. In Q2 2022, females aged 25-64 years old with a third level qualification were over three times more likely to be employed (84%) compared to females with a primary education or no formal education (24%). Comparing this to males aged 25-64 years old with a third level qualification, the employment rate was 92%, dropping to a 52% employment rate for those with a primary only education or no formal education. See Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1.
| Male | Female | Total | |
| Primary or below | 52 | 24 | 39 |
| Lower secondary | 72 | 45 | 61 |
| Higher secondary | 83 | 62 | 73 |
| Post leaving cert. | 87 | 70 | 79 |
| Third level | 92 | 84 | 88 |
Unemployment rates (Q2 2022) for those aged 25-64 years old generally decreased as the level of education attained increased. The difference in unemployment rates by education is larger for females than for males. Females with a primary education or none had an unemployment rate of 22% compared to just 2% of females with a third level qualification. For men, 8% of those with a primary education or none were unemployed, compared to 3% with a third level education. See Figure 2.2 and Table 2.2.
| Male | Female | Total | |
| Primary or below | 8 | 22 | 12 |
| Lower secondary | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Higher secondary | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Post leaving cert. | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Third level | 3 | 2 | 3 |
The labour force participation rate is the number of persons in the labour force expressed as a percentage of the total population. In Q2 2022, females aged 25-64 years old with a third level qualification were almost three times as likely to be in the labour force (87%) compared to females with a primary education or below (31%). The corresponding values for males in Q2 2022 were 95% and 57% respectively. See Table 2.3.
In Q2 2022, only 4% of those aged 18-24 were defined as early school leavers (Early school leavers are persons aged 18 to 24 whose highest level of educational attainment is lower secondary or below and are not currently in education), a decrease from 12% in Q2 2005. In Q2 2022, females aged 18-24 years old were less likely than males to be classified as early school leavers (3% versus 5% respectively). See Figure 2.3 and Table 2.4.
| Male | Female | Total | |
| 2005 | 16 | 9 | 12 |
| 2006 | 17 | 9 | 13 |
| 2007 | 15 | 8 | 12 |
| 2008 | 15 | 7 | 11 |
| 2009 | 15 | 7 | 11 |
| 2010 | 14 | 9 | 12 |
| 2011 | 13 | 8 | 11 |
| 2012 | 12 | 8 | 10 |
| 2013 | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Just under one third (32%) of early school leavers aged 18-24 were not economically active. Just under half (48%) of early school leavers were employed in Q2 2022, with 21% unemployed.
Early school leavers had a lower rate of employment in Q2 2022 compared with other persons aged 18-24 (48% compared to 63%). The unemployment rate for early school leavers was 21% compared to 6% for other persons aged 18-24. See Table 2.5.
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.