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For more information on this release:
E-mail: labour@cso.ie Marie O Connor +353 21 453 5298 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

May 2019

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
May 2018141,400 5.9
April 2019111,300 4.6
May 2019108,200 4.4
   Percentage Points
Change in month- 3,100 - 0.2
Change in year- 33,200 - 1.5

Monthly unemployment rate of 4.4% May 2019

Figure 1 Monthly Unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
go to full release

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2019 was 4.4%, down from 4.6% in April 2019 and down from 5.9% in May 2018. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 108,200 in May 2019, down from 111,300 when compared to the April 2019 figure and a decrease of 33,200 when compared to May 2018.

Summary points for May

  •  In May 2019 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% for males, down from 4.9% in April 2019, and down from 6.1% in May 2018.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in May 2019 was 4.2%, down from 4.3% in April 2019, and down from 5.8% in May 2018.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in May 2019 was 60,800, down from 63,200 in April 2019.  In May 2019 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 47,300 a decrease of 800 when compared to April 2019.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 10.0% in May 2019, a decrease from 10.3% in April 2019.

Data in this release are subject to revision, caused by updates to the seasonally adjusted series whenever new monthly data are added. In addition, it should be noted that larger revisions can occur when the most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are included in the calculation process. Revised figures will be produced upon the publication of each new set of benchmark figures from the LFS and these revisions will be included in the LFS release.

For further information see here.

Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2017May91,70063,500155,200 7.36.06.7
 June90,70063,600154,300 7.26.06.6
 July89,70066,700156,400 7.16.26.7
 August88,30066,800155,100 7.06.26.6
 September88,60066,900155,500 6.96.26.6
 October89,00064,400153,400 7.05.96.5
 November86,70063,600150,300 6.85.96.3
 December83,20062,100145,300 6.55.76.1
 
2018January77,50062,000139,500 6.15.75.9
 February75,20062,500137,700 5.95.85.8
 March75,80062,900138,700 5.95.85.9
 April77,50062,800140,300 6.05.75.9
 May78,10063,300141,400 6.15.85.9
 June76,90062,900139,800 6.05.75.9
 July75,10062,500137,600 5.85.75.8
 August72,90061,700134,600 5.75.65.6
 September72,70062,000134,800 5.65.65.6
 October72,60063,000135,600 5.65.75.7
 November71,90063,000135,000 5.65.75.6
 December71,80059,900131,600 5.55.45.5
 
2019January70,70055,300126,000 5.44.95.2
 February68,80051,500120,300 5.34.65.0
 March66,30047,800114,000 5.14.34.7
 April63,20048,100111,300 4.94.34.6
 May60,80047,300108,200 4.74.24.4
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2017May26,30016,80043,100 18.012.415.3
 June25,40016,80042,200 17.712.915.4
 July22,90017,00039,900 16.713.815.3
 August21,70016,60038,200 16.013.915.0
 September21,30016,30037,700 15.513.514.5
 October21,60015,40037,000 15.112.113.7
 November21,40014,80036,200 14.611.413.1
 December21,10015,10036,200 14.311.613.0
 
2018January20,50015,80036,300 14.112.213.2
 February20,50016,50037,000 14.112.813.5
 March21,60017,50039,100 14.813.414.1
 April22,50017,60040,100 15.313.414.4
 May23,20017,90041,200 15.713.514.7
 June23,00017,60040,500 15.413.014.3
 July22,60017,50040,100 15.112.713.9
 August22,40017,10039,500 14.912.413.7
 September22,10016,70038,700 14.612.113.4
 October21,80016,10037,900 14.411.913.2
 November21,80015,40037,200 14.311.613.1
 December22,20015,10037,200 14.411.212.9
 
2019January22,50014,70037,200 14.610.512.7
 February21,70013,60035,300 14.29.712.0
 March20,10012,40032,500 13.48.911.3
 April18,00011,60029,600 12.28.310.3
 May17,20011,60028,800 11.68.310.0
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2017May65,40046,700112,100 5.95.05.5
 June65,30046,800112,100 5.85.05.5
 July66,80049,700116,500 5.95.35.6
 August66,60050,200116,900 5.95.35.6
 September67,30050,600117,800 5.95.35.6
 October67,40049,000116,400 5.95.15.6
 November65,30048,800114,100 5.75.15.5
 December62,10047,000109,100 5.54.95.2
 
2018January57,00046,200103,200 5.04.95.0
 February54,70046,000100,700 4.84.84.8
 March54,20045,50099,600 4.84.84.8
 April55,00045,200100,200 4.84.74.8
 May54,90045,400100,300 4.84.74.8
 June53,90045,30099,200 4.74.74.7
 July52,60045,00097,500 4.64.74.6
 August50,50044,60095,100 4.44.64.5
 September50,70045,30096,000 4.54.74.6
 October50,80047,00097,700 4.54.84.6
 November50,20047,60097,800 4.44.94.6
 December49,60044,80094,400 4.34.64.4
 
2019January48,20040,70088,800 4.24.14.2
 February47,10037,90085,000 4.13.94.0
 March46,10035,40081,500 4.03.63.8
 April45,20036,50081,700 3.93.73.8
 May43,70035,70079,400 3.83.63.7

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 Q4 2017

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