Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
See also:
YouTube Video
For more information on this release:
E-mail: labour@cso.ie Sabrina Bowen +353 21 453 5151 Catalina Gonzalez +353 21 453 5163
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-8456
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Monthly Unemployment

February 2018

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
February 2017169,600 7.3
January 2018143,900 6.1
February 2018141,600 6.0
   Percentage Points
Change in month- 2,300 - 0.1
Change in year- 28,000 - 1.3

Monthly unemployment rate of 6.0% February 2018

Figure 1 Monthly unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
go to full release

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2018 was 6.0%, down from the rate of 6.1% in January 2018 and down from 7.3% in February 2017. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 141,600 in February 2018, down from 143,900 when compared to the January 2018 figure and a decrease of 28,000 when compared to February 2017.

Summary points for February

  • In February 2018 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5% for males, unchanged from January 2018 and down from 7.4% in February 2017.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in February 2018 was 5.5%, down from 5.6% in January 2018 and down from 7.1% in February 2017.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in February 2018 was 82,600, down from 83,600 in January 2018. In February 2018 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 59,000, a decrease of 1,300 when compared to January 2018.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 13.2% in February 2018, a decrease from 13.5% in January 2018.
Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016February124,40078,900203,300 9.97.68.9
 March122,40081,100203,400 9.87.78.8
 April120,80084,300205,100 9.68.08.9
 May119,90085,400205,300 9.58.08.8
 June118,30085,200203,500 9.48.08.7
 July116,80081,500198,300 9.27.78.5
 August114,60080,100194,600 9.07.58.4
 September108,70076,100184,800 8.67.27.9
 October103,40075,800179,200 8.27.17.7
 November99,30076,400175,800 7.97.27.6
 December96,70077,100173,800 7.77.27.5
 
2017January94,30078,100172,500 7.57.37.4
 February93,10076,500169,600 7.47.17.3
 March92,50071,100163,600 7.36.67.0
 April92,00065,100157,100 7.36.16.8
 May91,80062,000153,800 7.35.86.6
 June90,60062,500153,100 7.25.96.6
 July89,90067,400157,300 7.16.36.7
 August88,70067,400156,200 7.06.36.7
 September87,80067,900155,700 6.96.36.6
 October86,90066,700153,500 6.86.26.5
 November85,50064,500150,000 6.76.06.4
 December84,70062,200146,800 6.65.86.2
 
2018January83,60060,300143,900 6.55.66.1
 February82,60059,000141,600 6.55.56.0
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016February32,20016,10048,300 21.612.817.6
 March31,70017,60049,300 20.913.517.5
 April31,10019,70050,700 20.214.517.5
 May31,20020,60051,800 19.914.817.5
 June31,10020,40051,500 19.714.517.2
 July31,60019,10050,700 19.813.817.0
 August31,50018,60050,100 19.813.516.9
 September30,00018,00048,000 19.113.116.3
 October29,30018,60047,900 18.913.416.3
 November27,90018,90046,800 18.313.516.0
 December25,90018,70044,700 17.213.415.4
 
2017January23,20018,30041,500 15.813.114.5
 February22,00017,70039,700 15.212.814.0
 March23,40017,10040,500 16.112.514.4
 April25,20016,60041,800 17.212.314.8
 May26,30016,30042,600 18.012.315.3
 June25,20016,70041,900 17.812.815.4
 July23,20017,60040,800 17.114.015.6
 August21,90017,70039,600 16.414.415.4
 September20,90017,70038,600 15.514.515.0
 October20,40016,90037,300 15.314.014.7
 November19,80015,70035,500 15.013.014.1
 December19,70014,90034,600 15.012.413.8
 
2018January19,70014,10033,800 15.111.813.5
 February19,50013,20032,700 15.111.213.2
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2016February92,20062,800155,000 8.46.87.7
 March90,70063,500154,200 8.26.97.6
 April89,70064,600154,300 8.17.07.6
 May88,80064,800153,500 8.07.07.6
 June87,20064,800152,000 7.97.07.5
 July85,20062,400147,700 7.76.87.3
 August83,10061,400144,500 7.56.67.1
 September78,70058,100136,800 7.16.36.7
 October74,10057,200131,400 6.76.26.5
 November71,40057,600129,000 6.46.26.3
 December70,70058,400129,100 6.46.36.3
 
2017January71,10059,900131,000 6.46.46.4
 February71,10058,800129,900 6.46.36.3
 March69,00054,000123,100 6.25.86.0
 April66,80048,500115,300 6.05.25.6
 May65,60045,600111,200 5.94.95.4
 June65,40045,900111,300 5.84.95.4
 July66,70049,800116,500 5.95.35.6
 August66,90049,700116,600 5.95.25.6
 September66,90050,200117,100 5.95.35.6
 October66,40049,800116,200 5.85.25.6
 November65,70048,800114,500 5.75.15.5
 December65,00047,300112,300 5.75.05.3
 
2018January63,90046,200110,100 5.64.85.2
 February63,10045,800108,900 5.54.85.2

Background Notes

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.

http://www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/presspages/2018/labourforcesurveyq32017/

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/mue/monthlyunemploymentfebruary2018/