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

Monthly Unemployment

April 2018

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployedSeasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
April 2017157,0006.8
March 2018143,5006.0
April 2018140,3005.9
  Percentage Points
Change in month- 3,200- 0.1
Change in year- 16,700- 0.9

Monthly unemployment rate of 5.9% April 2018

Figure 1 Monthly unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2018 was 5.9%, down 0.1% from the revised rate of 6.0% in March 2018 and down from 6.8% in April 2017. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 140,300 in April 2018, down from 143,500 when compared to the March 2018 figure and a decrease of 16,700 when compared to April 2017.

Summary points for April

  • In April 2018 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2% for males, down from 6.4% in March 2018 and down from 7.3% in April 2017.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in April 2018 was 5.5%, down from 5.6% in March 2018 and down from 6.1% in April 2017.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in April 2018 was 80,300, down from 82,700 in March 2018. In April 2018 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 60,000, a decrease of 800 when compared to March 2018.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 12.0% in April 2018, a decrease from 12.5% in March 2018.
Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016April120,80084,300205,000 9.68.08.9
 May120,20085,500205,700 9.58.18.8
 June118,80085,500204,300 9.48.08.8
 July117,30081,600199,000 9.37.78.5
 August115,00080,200195,200 9.17.58.4
 September109,10076,300185,400 8.67.28.0
 October103,70076,300179,900 8.27.27.7
 November99,30076,700176,000 7.97.27.6
 December96,20076,900173,100 7.67.27.4
 
2017January93,60077,600171,200 7.47.27.3
 February92,40075,900168,200 7.37.17.2
 March92,00070,700162,600 7.36.67.0
 April92,10065,000157,000 7.36.16.8
 May92,10062,100154,200 7.35.86.6
 June91,10062,900154,000 7.25.96.6
 July90,40067,900158,300 7.16.36.8
 August89,20067,700156,900 7.06.36.7
 September88,30067,400155,700 6.96.36.6
 October87,40065,700153,100 6.86.16.5
 November86,50064,600151,100 6.76.06.4
 December86,30063,900150,200 6.75.96.3
 
2018January85,50062,800148,300 6.65.86.2
 February84,20061,500145,700 6.55.66.1
 March82,70060,800143,500 6.45.66.0
 April80,30060,000140,300 6.25.55.9
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016April31,20019,70050,800 20.214.517.6
 May31,30020,90052,200 19.914.917.6
 June31,20020,60051,800 19.614.617.3
 July31,70019,10050,800 19.813.616.9
 August31,70018,50050,200 19.813.216.7
 September30,30018,00048,300 19.213.016.3
 October29,60018,90048,400 19.013.516.4
 November27,90019,20047,100 18.413.816.2
 December25,60018,80044,300 17.213.615.4
 
2017January22,60018,00040,700 15.513.114.3
 February21,70017,20038,900 15.012.613.8
 March23,30016,70040,100 16.012.414.3
 April25,40016,50041,800 17.312.314.9
 May26,40016,50043,000 18.112.515.4
 June25,40017,00042,300 17.813.015.5
 July23,30018,00041,400 17.114.215.7
 August22,10017,70039,800 16.414.215.3
 September21,30016,90038,200 15.613.514.6
 October21,10015,30036,400 14.812.213.6
 November21,10014,40035,500 14.311.212.9
 December21,80014,50036,300 14.411.012.8
 
2018January22,20014,30036,500 14.610.912.9
 February22,00013,70035,700 14.510.512.7
 March21,70013,10034,900 14.410.212.5
 April20,90012,20033,100 14.09.612.0
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016April89,60064,600154,200 8.17.07.6
 May88,90064,600153,500 8.07.07.6
 June87,60064,900152,500 7.97.07.5
 July85,60062,600148,200 7.76.87.3
 August83,30061,700145,100 7.56.77.1
 September78,80058,300137,100 7.16.36.8
 October74,10057,400131,500 6.76.26.5
 November71,40057,500128,900 6.46.26.3
 December70,60058,200128,800 6.46.36.3
 
2017January71,00059,600130,600 6.46.46.4
 February70,70058,700129,400 6.36.36.3
 March68,70053,900122,600 6.25.86.0
 April66,70048,500115,200 6.05.25.6
 May65,70045,500111,200 5.94.95.4
 June65,70045,900111,700 5.94.95.4
 July67,00049,900116,900 5.95.35.6
 August67,10050,000117,100 5.95.35.6
 September67,00050,600117,600 5.95.35.6
 October66,30050,500116,700 5.85.35.6
 November65,30050,200115,600 5.85.35.5
 December64,40049,400113,900 5.75.25.4
 
2018January63,20048,500111,700 5.65.05.3
 February62,20047,800110,000 5.55.05.2
 March60,90047,700108,600 5.44.95.2
 April59,40047,800107,200 5.24.95.1

Background Notes

Purpose

The purpose of this release is to provide a detailed series of monthly unemployment estimates. The release contains both monthly unemployment rates and monthly unemployment volumes. 

Calculation of Monthly Estimates

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

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

Seasonal Adjustment

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

Additional Background Information

Further information regarding the LFS and Live Register series are available from each respective release, while specific information regarding the new LFS and the impact of the revisions arising from the Census of Population 2016 is available in an additional information note.

Labour Force Survey Q3 2017

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