The number of people signing on the Live Register fell by 1.5 per cent last month and was down by 10.3 per cent on an annual basis, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The data show there were 4,800 fewer people on the register in January, reducing the overall total to 323,200. On a seasonal basis there were 36,870 fewer people on the Live Register.

According to the latest figures, there were 3,500 fewer men and 1,200 fewer women signing on in January. This represents a decrease of 1.8 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively.

The number of male claimants fell by 26,922 or 12.3 per cent to 191,756 in the year to January, while the number of female claimants fell by 9,948 or 7.1 per cent to 130,046.

The number of young people aged under 25 continues to fall as it has in all months since July 2010. At the end of January there were 12.4 per cent of young people in that age category on the Live Register as against 13.7 per cent in January 2015 and 15.1 per cent for the same month a year earlier.

Long-term claimants on the Live Register fell by 11.8 per cent on an annual basis to 19,389. The number of male and female claimants declined by 14.5 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively over the year.

The latest figures show there were 65,270 casual and part-time workers on the Live Register in January, equivalent to 20.3 per cent of the total numbers signing on. This compares with 20.1 per cent a year earlier when there were 72,085 casual and part-time claimants.

The Live Register includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers who are entitled to jobseekers benefit or allowance.

CSO began publishing a new series of monthly unemployment estimates in June 2015. The latest figures, published earlier this week, put the State’s jobless rate at 8.6 per cent for January.

Article Source: Irish Times

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