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Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 1 2009

 

Employment falls by 7.5% in the year


In the first quarter of 2009 there were 1,965,600 persons in employment, an annual decrease of 158,500 or 7.5%. This compares with an annual decrease in employment of 3.9% in the previous quarter and growth of 1.7% in the year to the first quarter of 2008.


There was an annual decrease of 122,200 or 10.2% in the number of men in employment, while the number of women in employment decreased by 36,300 or 3.9%.

 

Main Results Q1 2009
Persons
Change in Quarter
Change in Year
Employment
1,965,600
-89,000
-158,500
Unemployment
   222,800
+53,100
+113,400
Labour Force
2,188,400
 -35,900
   -45,100


Full-time employment declines by over 176,000 over the year


Full-time employment fell by 176,200 on an annual basis with declines in both male         (-137,100) and female (-39,200) full-time employment. The largest decreases in full-time employment occurred in the Construction (-77,700), Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-31,200) and Industry (-25,100) sectors. In each of these sectors the decrease in full-time employment was partially offset by a relatively low increase in part-time employment.


Number of unemployed increases to almost 223,000


There were 158,400 males and 64,500 females unemployed in the first quarter of 2009, bringing the total number of unemployed up to 222,800, an increase of 113,400  (+103.7%) in the year. The number of unemployed males increased by 85,300 (+116.7%), with female unemployment increasing by 28,200 (+77.7%).


On a seasonally adjusted basis the number of persons unemployed increased by 42,100 between Q4 2008 and Q1 2009.


For further information contact


Tara Davis on 021 453 5093 or Martina O'Callaghan on 021 453 5491
Fax 021 453 5492
E-mail labour@cso.ie


25 June 2009


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