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Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Employment

Employment up 21,600 (1.5%) for males and 29,900 (2.4%) for females in the year to Q1 2024

Online ISSN: 2565-5728

CSO statistical publication, 23 May 2024, 11am

73.8%

employment rate in Q1 2024

up from 73.7% 12 months earlier

Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Numbers Employed

Using standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria, an estimated 2,704,200 persons were in employment in Q1 2024, up 1.9% (51,500) from 2,652,700 in Q1 2023.

The increase of 51,500 (+1.9%) in employment is composed of increases of 21,600 (+1.5%) for males and 29,900 (+2.4%) for females in the year to Q1 2024. See Table 2.1

See Monthly Estimates of Payroll Employees using Administrative Data Sources outputs for employment estimates based on administrative data for employees.

Table 2.1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by Sex and ILO Economic Status

Table 2.1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex and ILO Economic Status
'000
ILO Economic Status		Q1 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23	Q3 23	Q4 23	Q1 24
Males
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		1,430.2	1,451.0	1,473.2	1,475.4	1,495.2	1,493.9	1,491.3
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		1,360.6	1,393.3	1,410.3	1,408.5	1,426.4	1,433.8	1,431.9
full-time		1,188.6	1,216.5	1,228.4	1,238.6	1,246.3	1,235.8	1,233.6
part-time		172.0	176.9	181.9	170.0	180.0	198.0	198.3
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	133.7	138.1	141.1	120.0	131.0	141.9	148.4
	part-time, underemployed	38.3	38.8	40.9	50.0	49.0	56.1	49.9
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		69.6	57.7	62.9	66.8	68.8	60.1	59.3
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		54.3	48.6	49.1	52.9	51.8	46.9	46.5
seeking part-time work		10.5	[7.1]	11.6	12.2	14.6	11.4	10.1
seeking work as self-employed		*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		602.3	617.6	610.5	614.2	606.9	621.7	633.7
Potential additional labour force		39.4	27.6	32.2	49.4	42.3	47.8	46.4
Others		563.0	590.1	578.4	564.9	564.6	573.8	587.3
Total males aged 15 or over		2,032.6	2,068.6	2,083.7	2,089.6	2,102.1	2,115.5	2,125.0
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		4.9	4.0	4.3	4.6	4.6	4.1	4.0
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		70.4	70.1	70.7	70.6	71.1	70.6	70.2

Females
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		1,257.3	1,278.3	1,290.8	1,329.5	1,330.9	1,330.2	1,328.1
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		1,198.8	1,223.4	1,242.4	1,274.1	1,269.9	1,272.6	1,272.3
full-time		830.3	839.0	853.5	879.1	868.0	878.2	897.2
part-time		368.5	384.4	388.8	395.1	401.9	394.4	375.1
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	305.3	320.2	317.4	305.0	318.9	310.7	299.9
	part-time, underemployed	63.2	64.2	71.5	90.1	82.9	83.6	75.2
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		58.5	54.9	48.4	55.3	61.1	57.6	55.9
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		35.5	34.1	32.4	32.8	37.9	29.3	31.7
seeking part-time work		20.0	18.2	13.6	21.6	22.9	25.4	21.0
seeking work as self-employed		*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		851.9	875.2	877.5	850.9	857.7	872.9	882.5
Potential additional labour force		43.2	33.4	47.7	50.7	49.3	57.9	55.9
Others		808.7	841.7	829.7	800.1	808.4	815.0	826.7
Total females aged 15 or over		2,109.2	2,153.5	2,168.2	2,180.3	2,188.6	2,203.0	2,210.7
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		4.7	4.3	3.8	4.2	4.6	4.3	4.2
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		59.6	59.4	59.5	61.0	60.8	60.4	60.1

All persons
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		2,687.6	2,729.4	2,764.0	2,804.9	2,826.2	2,824.1	2,819.4
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		2,559.4	2,616.7	2,652.7	2,682.7	2,696.2	2,706.4	2,704.2
full-time		2,018.9	2,055.4	2,081.9	2,117.6	2,114.3	2,114.0	2,130.8
part-time		540.5	561.3	570.8	565.1	581.9	592.4	573.4
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	439.0	458.3	458.4	425.0	449.9	452.6	448.3
	part-time, underemployed	101.5	103.0	112.4	140.0	132.0	139.8	125.1
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		128.1	112.6	111.3	122.2	129.9	117.7	115.2
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		89.8	82.7	81.5	85.7	89.6	76.2	78.2
seeking part-time work		30.4	25.3	25.1	33.8	37.5	36.8	31.1
seeking work as self-employed		[7.9]	*	*	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		1,454.2	1,492.8	1,488.0	1,465.1	1,464.6	1,494.5	1,516.3
Potential additional labour force		82.5	61.0	79.9	100.1	91.6	105.7	102.3
Others		1,371.7	1,431.8	1,408.1	1,365.0	1,373.0	1,388.8	1,414.0
Total persons aged 15 or over		4,141.8	4,222.1	4,252.0	4,270.0	4,290.7	4,318.6	4,335.7
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		4.8	4.1	4.0	4.4	4.6	4.2	4.1
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		64.9	64.6	65.0	65.7	65.9	65.4	65.0

Employment rate % (Persons aged 15-64)
Male		77.3	78.1	78.2	78.0	78.5	78.3	78.0
Female		68.6	68.6	69.3	70.6	70.0	69.8	69.8
Total persons		72.9	73.3	73.7	74.2	74.2	74.0	73.8
¹Estimates 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.
²Data in this table incorporates updated population estimates based on the results of Census 2022. For further information see Background Notes.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024 Table 2.1 (XLS 44KB)

47.0%

Youth employment rate in Q1 2024

this means that almost half of those aged 15-24 were in employment in the quarter

up from 46.9% a year earlier

Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Employment Rates

The employment rate for those aged 15-64 was 73.8% in Q1 2024 compared to 73.7% in Q1 2023 and 72.9% in Q1 2022. In Q1 2024, the employment rate for males aged 15-64 years was 78.0%, compared to 69.8% for females.

Looking at the rates by age group, the employment rate was lowest among those aged 15-19 years (26.3%) and highest among those aged 35-44 years (83.9%). The rate of youth employment, those aged 15-24, stood at 47.0%; slightly higher for males (47.1%) than for females (46.9%). See Tables 2.1 and 2.2.

Table 2.2 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by key Economic Rates, Sex and Age Group

Table 2.2 Persons aged 15-89 years classified by ILO economic status, sex, age group and quarter
'000
		Employment rate (15-64)			Unemployment rate (15-74)			Participation rate (15+)
		Q1 22	Q1 23	Q1 24	Q1 22	Q1 23	Q1 24	Q1 22	Q1 23	Q1 24
Males
	15-19	26.6	26.4	26.0	11.2	10.8	11.2	29.9	29.6	29.3
	20-24	70.2	70.1	70.6	5.4	8.2	7.7	74.2	76.4	76.5
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	47.6	47.2	47.1	7.2	9.0	8.7	51.3	51.9	51.6
	25-34	85.3	85.8	87.3	7.0	5.6	5.5	91.7	90.9	92.3
	35-44	89.2	90.9	89.1	4.4	3.5	3.0	93.3	94.2	91.9
	45-54	87.1	89.3	88.9	3.7	2.9	2.5	90.5	91.9	91.2
	55-59	82.4	80.4	81.6	4.6	2.5	3.0	86.4	82.4	84.1
	60-64	66.0	68.4	69.3	2.8	4.3	3.0	67.9	71.5	71.4
	65-74	:	:	:	1.9	1.3	1.3	27.6	29.1	28.2
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	8.2	8.1	9.7
	Total males	77.3	78.2	78.0	4.9	4.3	4.0	70.4	70.7	70.2

Females
	15-19	27.5	27.2	26.6	8.9	11.6	11.4	30.2	30.7	30.0
	20-24	68.0	67.8	69.3	7.0	6.5	7.6	73.1	72.5	75.1
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	47.0	46.7	46.9	7.6	8.1	8.8	50.9	50.8	51.4
	25-34	79.4	78.2	79.6	5.5	4.3	4.6	84.0	81.7	83.5
	35-44	77.9	78.7	79.1	4.0	2.4	3.7	81.2	80.6	82.2
	45-54	75.6	76.9	78.3	3.9	2.8	3.0	78.6	79.1	80.8
	55-59	69.9	69.5	67.8	3.6	3.5	2.5	72.5	72.0	69.5
	60-64	45.9	52.1	52.2	3.6	2.6	2.9	47.6	53.4	53.8
	65-74	:	:	:	2.8	4.0	2.8	13.1	13.8	13.3
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	2.0	1.5	1.9
	Total females	68.6	69.3	69.8	4.7	3.8	4.2	59.6	59.5	60.1

All persons
	15-19	27.0	26.8	26.3	10.1	11.2	11.3	30.1	30.2	29.7
	20-24	69.1	69.0	70.0	6.2	7.4	7.7	73.7	74.5	75.8
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	47.3	46.9	47.0	7.4	8.6	8.8	51.1	51.4	51.5
	25-34	82.3	81.9	83.4	6.2	5.0	5.1	87.7	86.2	87.9
	35-44	83.4	84.5	83.9	4.2	3.0	3.3	87.1	87.1	86.8
	45-54	81.3	83.0	83.5	3.8	2.9	2.8	84.5	85.5	85.9
	55-59	76.1	74.9	74.6	4.1	2.9	2.8	79.4	77.1	76.7
	60-64	55.9	60.1	60.6	3.1	3.5	3.0	57.7	62.3	62.4
	65-74	:	:	:	2.2	2.2	1.8	20.2	21.3	20.6
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	4.8	4.5	5.4
	Total persons	72.9	73.7	73.8	4.8	4.0	4.1	64.9	65.0	65.0
¹ : Not applicable
²Data in this table incorporates updated population estimates based on the results of Census 2022. For further information see Background Notes.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024 Table 2.2 (XLS 43KB)

Economic Sector

The economic sectors that saw the largest year-on-year growth in Q1 2024 were the:

Professional, Scientific & Technical activities, which increased by 26,300 or 15.4%.
Education, which increased by 16,900 or 7.9%
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, which increased by 6,500 or 6.4%

The largest decreases by economic sector in Q1 2024 were observed in the:

The Industry sector – down 11,200 persons or -3.4%.
Administrative & Support Service sector, which decreased by 3,000 or -2.6%
Wholesale & Retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector – down 5,400 or-1.6%

Table 2.3 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector, ('000)

Table 2.3 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector
'000
Economic sector (NACE Rev.2)		Q1 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23	Q3 23	Q4 23	Q1 24
Males
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	90.6	86.0	85.5	86.6	97.3	97.5	94.5
B-F	Total Industry	371.3	377.5	380.9	374.2	370.4	362.7	379.5
B-E	Industry	221.1	229.2	231.2	217.1	214.2	212.9	219.6
F	Construction	150.2	148.3	149.7	157.1	156.2	149.9	159.9
G-U	Total Services	893.5	924.3	939.1	945.2	952.6	969.9	952.9
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	156.6	163.6	171.2	172.1	159.4	177.2	167.9
H	Transportation and storage	93.5	90.3	94.4	96.3	95.2	89.6	92.6
I	Accommodation and food service activities	67.9	86.1	79.9	80.5	82.7	89.0	84.1
J	Information and communication	117.8	110.7	117.9	119.6	123.8	121.7	117.7
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	71.8	71.2	73.4	70.2	69.4	69.1	66.0
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	86.6	101.5	96.4	98.7	99.1	103.2	108.2
N	Administrative and support service activities	59.7	60.2	61.0	64.5	64.5	58.8	61.3
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	62.8	69.0	68.8	69.1	68.3	67.0	61.7
P	Education	57.3	54.2	56.8	57.9	58.9	60.5	61.6
Q	Human health and social work activities	73.2	74.5	72.7	68.0	79.8	81.7	78.2
R-U	Other NACE activities	46.1	43.1	46.6	48.3	51.6	52.0	53.6
Not stated		*	*	*	*	[6.2]	*	*
Total males		1,360.6	1,393.3	1,410.3	1,408.5	1,426.4	1,433.8	1,431.9

Females
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	15.7	17.6	16.4	15.3	17.4	15.4	14.0
B-F	Total Industry	112.5	114.8	116.5	119.0	124.3	119.0	115.6
B-E	Industry	99.7	97.7	103.5	103.6	111.1	107.6	103.8
F	Construction	12.8	17.1	13.1	15.4	13.2	11.4	11.8
G-U	Total Services	1,068.1	1,087.1	1,106.7	1,137.9	1,125.4	1,134.5	1,139.1
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	149.8	160.7	163.1	167.3	164.8	166.7	161.1
H	Transportation and storage	21.6	24.7	18.4	20.6	21.3	20.0	18.5
I	Accommodation and food service activities	95.4	85.2	93.1	97.8	100.4	94.1	90.4
J	Information and communication	51.2	57.5	54.4	56.1	55.7	47.2	57.7
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	66.4	64.5	61.6	68.8	65.3	66.6	70.4
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	79.3	72.2	74.0	79.5	81.7	83.3	88.4
N	Administrative and support service activities	44.0	50.6	53.1	47.8	47.2	47.7	49.8
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	74.9	72.2	73.9	75.6	68.9	75.6	82.7
P	Education	159.3	155.2	157.3	163.5	163.9	174.5	169.4
Q	Human health and social work activities	261.6	269.3	283.4	290.1	282.9	283.6	277.2
R-U	Other NACE activities	64.6	75.0	74.4	70.8	73.2	75.3	73.4
Not stated		*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Total females		1,198.8	1,223.4	1,242.4	1,274.1	1,269.9	1,272.6	1,272.3

All persons
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	106.3	103.5	102.0	101.9	114.7	112.9	108.5
B-F	Total Industry	483.8	492.3	497.4	493.1	494.6	481.7	495.2
B-E	Industry	320.8	326.9	334.7	320.7	325.2	320.4	323.5
F	Construction	163.1	165.4	162.8	172.4	169.4	161.3	171.7
G-U	Total Services	1,961.6	2,011.4	2,045.8	2,083.1	2,078.0	2,104.3	2,091.9
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	306.4	324.2	334.3	339.5	324.2	343.8	329.0
H	Transportation and storage	115.1	115.0	112.8	116.9	116.4	109.6	111.1
I	Accommodation and food service activities	163.3	171.2	173.0	178.2	183.1	183.1	174.5
J	Information and communication	169.0	168.2	172.3	175.8	179.5	168.9	175.4
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	138.2	135.7	135.0	139.1	134.7	135.7	136.4
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	165.9	173.7	170.4	178.2	180.8	186.6	196.6
N	Administrative and support service activities	103.8	110.8	114.1	112.3	111.7	106.5	111.1
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	137.7	141.2	142.8	144.7	137.1	142.7	144.4
P	Education	216.6	209.4	214.1	221.4	222.9	235.0	231.0
Q	Human health and social work activities	334.9	343.9	356.1	358.0	362.7	365.3	355.4
R-U	Other NACE activities	110.8	118.1	121.0	119.1	124.7	127.3	127.0
Not stated		[7.8]	[9.4]	[7.4]	*	[9.0]	[7.5]	[8.6]
Total persons		2,559.4	2,616.7	2,652.7	2,682.7	2,696.2	2,706.4	2,704.2
¹ 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 [].
²Data in this table incorporates updated population estimates based on the results of Census 2022. For further information see Background Notes.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024 Table 2.3 (XLS 45KB)

Employment Status

The number of employees increased by 52,500 (+2.3%) in the year to Q1 2024 to 2,337,400, while the number of self-employed increased by 3,400 (+1.0%) to 344,700.

The increase in overall employment of 51,500 in the year to Q1 2024 was made up of 48,900 (+2.3%) persons in full-time employment and 2,600 (+0.5%) persons in part-time employment. See Tables 2.1 and 2.4.

Table 2.4 Persons aged 15 – 89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and employment status

Table 2.4 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and employment status
'000
Employment status		Q1 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23	Q3 23	Q4 23	Q1 24
Males
	Self employed (with paid employees)	76.2	83.4	75.3	77.2	77.3	78.3	74.0
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	172.6	169.3	179.7	177.7	182.0	178.4	181.8
	Total self employed	248.8	252.7	255.1	254.9	259.3	256.7	255.8
	Employee	1,100.2	1,129.5	1,143.7	1,143.7	1,152.4	1,164.3	1,163.1
	Assisting relative	11.7	11.1	11.6	10.0	14.7	12.8	13.0
	Total males	1,360.6	1,393.3	1,410.3	1,408.5	1,426.4	1,433.8	1,431.9

Females
	Self employed (with paid employees)	23.8	22.4	24.2	25.2	28.2	25.3	24.8
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	61.9	63.9	62.0	62.3	57.8	59.3	64.1
	Total self employed	85.7	86.3	86.2	87.6	86.0	84.6	88.9
	Employee	1,102.0	1,124.8	1,141.2	1,174.9	1,167.2	1,174.2	1,174.2
	Assisting relative	11.0	12.3	14.9	11.6	16.7	13.7	9.1
	Total females	1,198.8	1,223.4	1,242.4	1,274.1	1,269.9	1,272.6	1,272.3

All persons
	Self employed (with paid employees)	100.0	105.8	99.6	102.4	105.5	103.6	98.8
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	234.6	233.2	241.7	240.0	239.8	237.7	245.9
	Total self employed	334.5	339.0	341.3	342.4	345.3	341.4	344.7
	Employee	2,202.2	2,254.2	2,284.9	2,318.6	2,319.6	2,338.5	2,337.4
	Assisting relative	22.7	23.5	26.5	21.6	31.3	26.5	22.1
	Total persons	2,559.4	2,616.7	2,652.7	2,682.7	2,696.2	2,706.4	2,704.2
¹ 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 [].
²Data in this table incorporates updated population estimates based on the results of Census 2022. For further information see Background Notes.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024 Table 2.4 (XLS 39KB)

Visit Table QLF17 on PxStat

NUTS 3 Regions

Decreases were observed in two NUTS 3 regions. The Midland region saw the largest percentage decrease at -1.1%, followed by the Border region at -0.9%. The Mid-West region saw the largest percentage increase at 3.6%, followed by the West region at 3.2%. See Table 2.5.

Table 2.5 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions and ILO Economic Status

Table 2.5 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions and ILO Economic Status

Region			Q1 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23	Q3 23	Q4 23	Q1 24
Northern and Western
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	434.4	444.8	452.6	458.0	469.5	465.8	458.7
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	17.7	17.7	18.0	17.8	18.3	17.9	17.9
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	452.0	462.5	470.5	475.8	487.8	483.7	476.6
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	3.9	3.9	3.9	3.8	3.8	3.7	3.8
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	62.5	62.6	63.1	63.5	64.8	63.7	62.7
	Border
		In employment ('000) (Perons aged 15-89)	194.3	200.3	204.5	203.9	209.1	210.0	202.7
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	[9.4]	[9.0]	[8.3]	[8.1]	[9.1]	[7.5]	[8.2]
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	203.7	209.3	212.8	212.0	218.3	217.5	210.8
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.6	4.3	3.9	3.8	4.2	3.5	3.9
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	61.0	61.6	62.2	61.7	62.9	62.1	60.1
	West
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	240.0	244.5	248.1	254.0	260.4	255.8	256.1
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	[8.3]	[8.7]	[9.7]	[9.8]	[9.2]	10.4	[9.7]
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	248.3	253.2	257.8	263.8	269.6	266.2	265.8
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	3.4	3.5	3.8	3.7	3.4	3.9	3.7
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	63.7	63.5	63.8	65.0	66.4	65.1	65.0

Southern
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	821.3	839.4	852.1	858.4	876.9	884.6	870.0
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	36.9	34.6	28.6	42.5	45.3	36.2	36.0
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	858.2	874.0	880.7	900.9	922.2	920.7	906.0
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.3	4.0	3.3	4.8	5.0	4.0	4.0
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	62.5	62.4	62.4	63.6	64.6	64.0	62.7
	Mid-West
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	237.2	245.5	248.6	255.3	254.2	256.6	257.7
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	10.4	10.9	10.3	12.7	13.8	11.1	9.7
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	247.6	256.4	259.0	268.0	268.0	267.7	267.4
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.3	4.3	4.0	4.8	5.2	4.2	3.7
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	60.7	61.5	61.7	63.4	62.8	62.2	61.9
	South-East
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	211.1	219.1	222.8	220.0	232.6	232.4	224.9
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	13.1	[12.4]	[8.6]	13.3	11.6	[10.4]	[8.8]
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	224.2	231.5	231.4	233.3	244.2	242.8	233.7
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	5.9	5.4	3.7	5.8	4.8	4.3	3.8
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	60.9	61.7	61.4	61.6	64.1	63.5	60.9
	South-West
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	373.0	374.8	380.7	383.1	390.1	395.7	387.5
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	13.3	11.3	9.6	16.5	19.9	14.6	17.5
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	386.3	386.1	390.3	399.5	410.0	410.3	405.0
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	3.5	2.9	2.5	4.1	4.9	3.6	4.4
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	64.8	63.3	63.6	64.9	66.2	65.6	64.5

Eastern and Midland
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	1,303.7	1,332.6	1,348.0	1,366.3	1,349.8	1,356.0	1,375.4
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	73.6	60.3	64.7	61.8	66.3	63.7	61.4
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	1,377.3	1,392.8	1,412.8	1,428.1	1,416.1	1,419.7	1,436.8
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	5.4	4.3	4.6	4.3	4.7	4.5	4.3
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	67.3	66.9	67.4	67.9	67.1	66.9	67.4
	Dublin
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	770.8	783.4	795.2	806.7	791.7	800.7	817.9
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	47.2	38.4	42.4	42.2	42.0	39.7	39.2
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	818.0	821.8	837.6	848.9	833.7	840.4	857.0
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	5.8	4.7	5.1	5.0	5.0	4.7	4.6
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	68.6	67.7	68.4	69.1	67.6	67.9	69.0
	Mid-East
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	375.7	393.7	389.9	399.9	398.5	399.2	396.4
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	18.8	16.2	16.0	13.6	16.2	14.9	13.4
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	394.5	410.0	405.9	413.6	414.7	414.1	409.9
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.8	4.0	4.0	3.3	3.9	3.6	3.3
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	65.5	67.0	66.2	67.2	67.2	66.7	65.9
	Midland
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	157.3	155.4	162.9	159.7	159.6	156.1	161.1
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	[7.5]	*	*	*	[8.1]	9.1	[8.8]
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	164.8	161.1	169.2	165.7	167.7	165.2	169.9
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.6	3.5	3.8	3.6	4.9	5.6	5.2
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	65.4	62.9	65.5	63.9	64.2	62.8	63.8

State
		In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	2,559.4	2,616.7	2,652.7	2,682.7	2,696.2	2,706.4	2,704.2
		Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	128.1	112.6	111.3	122.2	129.9	117.7	115.2
		In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	2,687.6	2,729.4	2,764.0	2,804.9	2,826.2	2,824.1	2,819.4
		Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	4.8	4.1	4.0	4.4	4.6	4.2	4.1
		Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	64.9	64.6	65.0	65.7	65.9	65.4	65.0
¹ 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.
² Data in this table incorporates updated population estimates based on the results of Census 2022. For further information see Background Notes.

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Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Employment

Employment

Employment up 21,600 (1.5%) for males and 29,900 (2.4%) for females in the year to Q1 2024

Numbers Employed

Employment Rates

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