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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

23 May 2017

Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 1 2017

Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 1 2017
  • Employment was up 3.5% or 68,600 to 2,045,100 in the year to Q1 2017
  • Unemployment was down 18.5% or 33,200 to 146,200 in the year to Q1 2017
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down from 7.1% in Q4 2016 to 6.8% in Q1 2017
  • Go to release: Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 1 2017

    The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (23rd May 2017) issued results from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) for Q1 2017. This report presents the results for Q1 2017 and comparable data for previous years.

    Commenting on the report, Jim Dalton, Statistician said: “The QNHS is the official source of data for employment and unemployment in Ireland.

    Key findings show that in Q1 2017, employment totalled 2,045,100, up 3.5% or 68,600 from the same quarter in 2016. When adjusted for seasonal factors, employment increased by 0.9% or 19,300 from Q4 2016.

    There were 146,200 people unemployed in Q1 2017 and this was down 18.5% or 33,200 from Q1 2016. When seasonally adjusted, the unemployment rate fell from 7.1% to 6.8% over the quarter while the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 148,800, the lowest since Q2 2008 when the comparable figure was 127,200.

    Long term unemployment, which refers to those persons unemployed for one year or more, accounted for 53.8% of total unemployment in Q1 2017 compared to 56.1% a year earlier.

    Finally, the total number of persons in the labour force is now 2,191,400, up 1.6% or 35,400 from Q1 2016. The number of persons not in the labour force is 1,474,900 which was up 0.3% or 4,800 from a year earlier”.

    Summary of headline results

    IndicatorQuarter 1 2017Annual change
    Employed2,045,100 +68,600
    Unemployed146,200-33,200
    In labour force2,191,400 +35,400
    Not in labour force1,474,900 +4,800
    For further information contact:

    Jim Dalton (+353) 21 453 5623 or Martina O'Callaghan (+353) 21 453 5491

    or email labour@cso.ie

    -- ENDS --