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For more information on this release:
E-mail: labour@cso.ie Martina O'Callaghan +353 21 453 5491 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

March 2016

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
March 2015211,100 9.8
February 2016190,600 8.8
March 2016187,700 8.6
   Percentage Points
Change in month- 2,900 - 0.2
Change in year- 23,400 - 1.2

Monthly unemployment rate of 8.6% in March 2016

Monthly unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2016 was 8.6%, down from 8.8% in February 2016 and down from 9.8% in March 2015. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 187,700 in March 2016, a decrease of 2,900 when compared to the February 2016 figure or a decrease of 23,400 when compared to March 2015. 

Summary points for March 

  • In March 2016 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.2% for males, down from 10.4% in February 2016 and down from 11.2% in March 2015.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in March 2016 was 6.7%, down from 6.8% in February 2016 and down from 8.1% in March 2015.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in March 2016 was 122,000. This is a decrease of 2,400 when compared to the February 2016 figure of 124,400. In March 2016 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 65,700, a decrease of 500 from February 2016.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 19.0% in March 2016. This is down from 20.0% in February 2016.

The 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 Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) data are included in the calculation process. Revised figures will be produced upon the publication of each new set of benchmark figures from the QNHS and these revisions will be included in the QNHS release.

 

Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014March162,80095,600258,400 13.79.912.0
 April160,80090,900251,700 13.69.511.7
 May158,50090,000248,500 13.49.411.6
 June155,10089,500244,700 13.19.311.4
 July151,90090,700242,600 12.89.411.3
 August148,90091,000239,900 12.69.411.2
 September145,30089,300234,500 12.39.210.9
 October142,60085,700228,200 12.18.910.6
 November140,10082,600222,700 11.98.610.4
 December138,30080,600218,900 11.78.410.2
         
2015January137,40079,400216,800 11.68.310.1
 February135,40078,700214,000 11.48.210.0
 March133,50077,600211,100 11.28.19.8
 April131,00078,500209,500 11.08.19.7
 May128,70078,200206,900 10.88.19.6
 June127,20076,200203,400 10.77.99.4
 July125,70073,500199,200 10.67.69.2
 August125,80071,700197,500 10.67.49.1
 September126,40070,100196,500 10.67.29.1
 October126,80069,500196,300 10.77.29.1
 November127,70068,700196,400 10.87.19.1
 December127,90067,800195,700 10.86.99.0
         
2016January126,00066,700192,600 10.66.88.9
 February124,40066,200190,600 10.46.88.8
 March122,00065,700187,700 10.26.78.6
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014March29,90021,40051,400 28.023.325.8
 April29,00021,10050,100 27.423.325.5
 May28,20020,50048,800 26.922.825.0
 June27,50019,90047,400 26.522.024.4
 July27,00018,90046,000 26.420.723.7
 August26,80018,00044,900 26.219.623.1
 September26,40017,20043,600 25.818.822.5
 October26,40016,20042,600 25.517.922.0
 November26,40015,70042,100 25.317.621.8
 December26,20015,40041,700 25.017.621.7
         
2015January26,40015,70042,100 25.118.222.0
 February26,00015,70041,800 24.818.421.9
 March25,30015,50040,800 24.218.121.5
 April24,40015,40039,800 23.717.921.0
 May23,50015,30038,800 23.017.720.6
 June23,40015,10038,500 22.917.520.4
 July23,60015,40038,900 23.017.720.6
 August23,80015,30039,100 23.117.720.7
 September23,90015,10039,000 23.517.620.8
 October23,40014,40037,800 23.517.020.5
 November23,40014,20037,600 23.616.820.5
 December23,40014,00037,400 23.516.420.2
         
2016January23,00014,10037,100 23.216.720.2
 February22,50014,10036,500 22.716.720.0
 March21,10013,40034,400 21.616.019.0
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2014March132,90074,200207,000 12.38.510.6
 April131,80069,800201,600 12.28.010.4
 May130,20069,500199,700 12.18.010.3
 June127,70069,600197,300 11.88.010.1
 July124,90071,700196,600 11.68.210.1
 August122,10073,000195,100 11.38.310.0
 September118,90072,100191,000 11.08.29.8
 October116,10069,500185,600 10.87.99.5
 November113,70066,900180,700 10.67.79.3
 December112,10065,200177,200 10.47.59.1
         
2015January111,00063,700174,800 10.37.38.9
 February109,30062,900172,300 10.17.28.8
 March108,20062,100170,300 10.07.18.7
 April106,60063,200169,700 9.87.28.6
 May105,20062,900168,100 9.77.18.5
 June103,80061,100164,900 9.56.98.4
 July102,10058,100160,200 9.46.68.1
 August102,00056,400158,400 9.46.48.0
 September102,40055,000157,500 9.46.28.0
 October103,40055,100158,500 9.56.28.0
 November104,30054,500158,800 9.66.18.0
 December104,50053,800158,300 9.66.08.0
         
2016January102,90052,500155,500 9.45.97.8
 February102,00052,100154,100 9.35.87.8
 March100,90052,400153,300 9.25.87.7

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. These outputs now replace the seasonally adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rate (SUR) as the definitive measure of monthly unemployment.

Calculation of Monthly Estimates:

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) 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 QNHS 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 QNHS estimate.

For months where the quarterly unemployment data is not yet available, the ratio of the QNHS monthly estimate to the Live Register monthly estimate (i.e. the benchmark to indicator ratio) is forecast forward in order to extrapolate a monthly QNHS 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.

One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)

The One-Parent Family Payment is a social welfare payment for men and women who are younger than 66 and bring up children without the support of a partner and meet certain other criteria. Claimants on this scheme are not counted as part of the Live Register.

From July 2013 new rules came into operation reducing the age limits for the One-Parent Family Payment. This means that some people no longer qualify for the payment and may avail of other schemes or supports.

As a consequence, approximately 2,800 people in July 2015 previously receiving the One-Parent Family Payment, made a claim for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) and are therefore included in the Live Register figures which are used to extrapolate a monthly QNHS estimate as the quarterly unemployment data is not yet available. It can be noted that the inclusion of these additional persons in July 2015 has a marginal impact on the production of the estimated monthly unemployment volume and rate.

Additional Background Information:

Further information regarding the QNHS and Live Register series are available from each respective release.

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