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For more information on this release:
E-mail: labour@cso.ie John Mullane (+353) 21 453 5713 Martina O'Callaghan (+353) 21 453 5491
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-8456
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Monthly Unemployment

May 2022

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
May 2021174,200 6.9
April 2022129,900 4.8
May 2022127,500 4.7
   Percentage Points
Change in month- 2,400 - 0.1
Change in year- 46,700 - 2.2

The Monthly Unemployment rate for May 2022 was 4.7% for all persons aged 15-74 years

Figure 1 Monthly Unemployment rate seasonally adjusted
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2022 was 4.7%, down from a rate of 4.8% in April 2022 and down from 6.9% in May 2021. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 127,500 in May 2022, compared to 129,900 in April 2022. When compared to May 2021, there was an annual decrease of 46,700 in the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed.

Summary points for May

  • In May 2022 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% for males, down from 4.9% in April 2022, and down from 7.0% in May 2021.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females was 4.6% in May 2022, down from 4.7% in April 2022, and down from 6.8% in May 2021.
  • The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in May 2022 was 68,200 compared to 69,500 in April 2022.  In May 2022 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 59,300 compared to 60,400 in April 2022.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 4.9% in May 2022 down from 5.6% in April 2022.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 25-74 years was 4.6% in May 2022 down from 4.7% in April 2022.

The methodology for the Monthly Unemployment Estimates involves forecasting the number of persons who are unemployed using the trend in the recipient Live Register series.

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 Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are included in the calculation process. 

The monthly unemployment estimates published today for May 2022 have incorporated LFS benchmarks up to Q1 2022 for the monthly estimates up to March 2022 while the estimates for April and May 2022 have been forecasted.

Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2020May61,60049,000110,600 5.14.95.0
 June68,60058,300126,900 5.65.85.7
 July82,70075,800158,500 6.57.16.8
 August89,80083,700173,500 6.97.67.2
 September94,20084,700178,900 7.17.67.3
 October84,20069,900154,100 6.46.36.4
 November82,90066,100149,000 6.36.06.2
 December82,10066,700148,700 6.36.16.2
 
2021January89,00076,900166,000 6.96.96.9
 February95,20084,300179,500 7.47.57.4
 March99,00088,400187,400 7.67.87.7
 April100,50086,100186,600 7.67.47.5
 May94,60079,600174,200 7.06.86.9
 June87,80073,300161,100 6.56.26.3
 July80,80068,400149,200 5.95.75.8
 August74,90066,300141,200 5.55.55.5
 September73,90062,300136,300 5.45.15.3
 October73,70063,500137,200 5.35.25.3
 November73,30063,700136,900 5.35.25.2
 December70,70062,600133,400 5.15.15.1
 
2022January69,20062,900132,100 5.05.05.0
 February66,20060,000126,200 4.74.84.8
 March71,90063,200135,100 5.15.05.1
 April69,50060,400129,900 4.94.74.8
 May68,20059,300127,500 4.74.64.7
Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2020May14,00018,80032,800 12.417.414.8
 June17,80020,80038,600 15.318.716.9
 July27,70023,10050,800 20.818.219.5
 August31,70024,70056,300 22.218.420.3
 September33,70026,60060,200 22.919.321.2
 October24,20022,50046,700 17.417.317.4
 November20,80022,30043,100 15.317.516.4
 December17,20021,90039,100 12.917.415.1
 
2021January17,00024,80041,800 12.619.215.8
 February20,90026,90047,900 14.820.017.4
 March25,80028,80054,500 17.420.518.9
 April31,00029,70060,700 19.720.320.0
 May29,70026,30056,000 18.417.618.0
 June27,20022,90050,100 16.215.015.6
 July23,40019,30042,700 13.612.212.9
 August20,00018,30038,200 11.411.311.4
 September20,50017,90038,500 11.810.811.3
 October21,60019,60041,100 12.511.412.0
 November22,00020,10042,100 12.711.512.1
 December19,50019,70039,200 11.211.111.2
 
2022January16,50019,50036,000 9.310.910.1
 February13,80016,20030,000 7.69.18.4
 March12,00013,30025,300 6.77.67.1
 April9,00011,20020,200 4.96.25.6
 May7,60011,00018,600 4.05.84.9
Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2020May47,60030,20077,800 4.33.43.9
 June50,80037,50088,300 4.64.24.4
 July55,00052,600107,600 4.85.65.2
 August58,20059,100117,200 5.06.15.5
 September60,50058,100118,600 5.25.95.5
 October60,00047,400107,400 5.14.95.0
 November62,10043,800105,900 5.34.54.9
 December64,80044,800109,600 5.64.65.1
 
2021January72,00052,100124,100 6.35.35.8
 February74,20057,300131,600 6.55.86.2
 March73,20059,600132,800 6.36.06.2
 April69,60056,400125,900 5.95.65.8
 May64,90053,300118,200 5.55.25.4
 June60,60050,400111,000 5.14.95.0
 July57,40049,100106,400 4.84.74.8
 August55,00048,000103,000 4.64.64.6
 September53,40044,40097,800 4.44.24.3
 October52,10044,00096,000 4.34.24.2
 November51,30043,60094,900 4.24.14.2
 December51,30042,90094,200 4.24.14.1
 
2022January52,80043,40096,100 4.34.14.2
 February52,40043,80096,200 4.34.14.2
 March59,90049,900109,800 4.94.64.8
 April60,50049,200109,600 4.94.54.7
 May60,60048,300108,900 4.84.44.6

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 are 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. This approach adheres to agreed international practice.

Please see the Technical Note published alongside the August 2020 release which outlines minor changes made to the methodology used for results presented in this release following analysis of recipient and non-recipient claims in the Live Register Series.

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.

Seasonally adjusting the Monthly Unemployment series during the COVID-19 crisis period will be challenging until the scale and shape of its impact on the time series is better understood. This initial seasonally adjusted result might be revised for some months ahead as future observations become available. Users should be aware that there is increased uncertainty around the seasonally adjusted figures during this period.

Additional Background Information

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

Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Live Register

 

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