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Unemployment

Unemployment

The overall unemployment rate was 4.1% in Q1 2024, which is up from 4.0% in Q1 2023.

Online ISSN: 2565-5728
CSO statistical publication, , 11am
115,200
Persons aged 15-74 were unemployed in Q1 2024
with an associated unemployment rate of 4.1%
111,300 people were unemployed in Q1 2023 at a rate of 4.0%
Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Numbers Unemployed and the Unemployment Rate

The number of persons aged 15-74 years who were unemployed increased by 3,900 (3.5%) to 115,200 in the year to Q1 2024, using standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria. The unadjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-74 years increased from 4.0% to 4.1% over the year to Q1 2024. See Table 2.1.

Figure 3.1 Number of unemployed persons aged 15-74 years, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2024,(thousands)
4.2%
unemployment rate for females in Q1 2024, up from 3.8% a year earlier
4.0% of males were unemployed in Q1 2024, down from 4.3% in Q1 2023
Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2024

Unemployment by sex

Unemployment decreased by 3,600 (-5.7%) for males to 59,300 in the year to Q1 2024 – this compares with a rise of 7,500 (+15.4%) to 55,900 for females over the same period. The unemployment rate for males was 4.0% in Q1 2024 down from 4.3% a year earlier while the corresponding rates for females were 4.2% and 3.8% respectively.

Figure 3.2 Unemployment rate for those aged 15-74 years by sex, Quarter 1 1998 to Quarter 1 2024
Table 3.1 Persons aged 15 - 89 years classified by ILO Economic Status and Age Group

Youth Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 years, known as the Youth Unemployment Rate, stood at 8.8% in Q1 2024 up from 8.6% in Q1 2023. See Table 2.2.

Figure 3.3 Unemployment rates for persons aged 15-24 years and 25-74 years, Quarter 1 1998 to Quarter 1 2024

Duration of Unemployment

73.7%* of unemployed persons in Q1 2024 were in short-term unemployment (less than one year). Over the year to Q1 2024, short-term unemployment rose by 10,700 (+15.4%) to 80,700 while there was a decrease of 3,500 (-10.7%) in the numbers of long-term unemployed to 28,800. See Table 3.2.

*excluding ‘Not stated’ 

Figure 3.4 Number of unemployed persons aged 15-74 years classified by sex and unemployment duration, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2024, (thousands)

The long-term unemployment rate decreased from 1.2% in Q1 2023 to 1.0% in Q1 2024. Over a quarter (26.3%)* of unemployed persons were in long-term unemployment in Q1 2024 which is down from 31.5%* a year earlier.  See Table 3.2.

*excluding ‘Not stated’

Figure 3.5 Long-term unemployment rate for persons aged 15-74 years, Quarter 1 1998 to Quarter 1 2024
Table 3.2 Persons aged 15-74 years classified by sex and duration of unemployment (ILO)

Unemployment by Region

On an annual basis, unemployment increased in three out of eight NUTS 3 regions. The largest increase in unemployment was in the South-West region, which was up 7,800 or (81.3%).

Four of the NUTS 3 regions showed a decrease in unemployment over the year to Q1 2024. The largest decrease occurred in the Dublin region (-3,200) or -7.6%.