LFS estimates were updated on 22nd Feb 2024 to incorporate updated population estimates for the period 2016 Q3 to 2023 Q3, based on the results of Census 2022. LFS results are updated in this way following each Census of Population. For further information see Background Notes.
The data in this publication does not reflect these updates. Please refer to the relevant tables on LFS Px-stat for updated LFS estimates.
The number of persons aged 15-89 years in employment increased by 102,700 or 4.1% to 2,608,500 persons in the 12 months to Q1 2023.
The employment rate for females aged 15-64 at 69.2% is at its highest level since the series began in 1998, while the unemployment rate for females at 3.8% was at its lowest level.
There were 110,700 unemployed persons aged 15-74 years in Q1 2023, with an associated unemployment rate of 4.1%, down from 4.8% in Q1 2022.
The unemployment rate among those aged 15-24 years (the youth unemployment rate) was 8.6% in Q1 2023, up from 7.5% in Q1 2022.
The estimated Labour Force (i.e., the sum of all persons aged 15-89 years who were either employed or unemployed) stood at 2,719,100 in Q1 2023, up by 3.3% (86,600) from Q1 2022.
The estimated participation rate in Q1 2023 was 64.9%, up slightly from 64.8% in Q1 2022.
The estimated total number of hours worked per week in Q1 2023 stood at 83.9 million hours, up by 3.1 million hours or 3.8% on Q1 2022.
The headline table shows the numbers and rates for employed and unemployed persons. It also shows those working in the labour force and not in the labour force. It highlights the annual change to Q1 2023.
| Table 1.1 Labour Force Survey Summary Results | ||
| Indicator | Q1 2023 | Annual change 1 |
| Employed persons aged 15-89 years | 2,608,500 | +102,700 |
| Employment rate for those aged 15-64 years | 73.6% | +0.8 pp |
| Unemployed persons aged 15-74 years | 110,700 | -16,000 |
| Unemployment rate for those aged 15-74 years | 4.1% | -0.7 pp |
| In labour force | 2,719,100 | +86,600 |
| Not in labour force | 1,468,300 | +37,300 |
| 1 pp refers to percentage point change | ||
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a continuous household survey carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and is the official source for employment and unemployment estimates in Ireland.
The official labour market classification of respondents to the LFS is based on International Labour Organisation (ILO) concepts and definitions.
All European Union (EU) Member States are legally obliged to carry out a Labour Force Survey and to provide these data to Eurostat on a quarterly basis, as set out in the Integration of European Social Statistics (IESS) framework regulation (EU 2019/1700) and Implementing Regulation (EU 2019/2240), which apply from 01 January 2021.
This is an audio file with a 29-second quote from CSO Statistician with the Labour Market Division, Sam Scriven, about the Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2023 release.
Media outlets have permission to use the clip as long as they credit the CSO.
Labour Force Survey Presentation Quarter 1 2023 (PPT 1,943KB)
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (24 May 2023) issued results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Q1 2023.
Commenting on today’s publication, Sam Scriven, Statistician in the Labour Market & Earnings Division, said: “The Employment rate for persons aged 15-64 years in Quarter 1 2023 was 73.6%, the highest recorded since the series began in 1998.
Employment
The number of persons aged 15-89 years in employment increased by 102,700 or 4.1% to 2,608,500 persons in the year to Q1 2023.
An estimated 561,700 or 21.5% of those in employment worked part-time, and around 1 in 5 of those in part-time employment were classified as underemployed (i.e. they would like to work more hours for more pay).
Year-on-year changes in numbers employed varied across the different economic sectors in the year to Q1 2023, with the notable increases observed in Administrative & Support Service Activities (+10.5% or by +10,700 people) and the Wholesale & Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles (+9.8% or +29,500 people). The largest percentage decrease was in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector, down 4,400 persons or (-4.3%) compared with Q1 2022.
At regional level, the highest employment rate was recorded in Dublin at 75.5% in Q1 2023, up from 75.1% a year earlier. The lowest employment rate (71.0%) was in the South-East region, an increase from the rate of 68.9% observed in Q1 2022.
Absences from work and hours worked
The number of absences from work (including sick leave, family leave, or holidays) during the reference week in Q1 2023 declined by 14.9% to 143,000. This, together with an increase of 4.1% in employment, resulted in an increase of 3.8% or 3.1 million more hours worked per week to 83.9 million hours per week in Q1 2023.
The impact on hours worked varied across the different economic sectors. The 4.6 million hours worked per week in the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector was up 0.3 million hours from Q1 2022 (+7.0%) but remains half a million hours below the pre-pandemic (Q1 2019) figure of 5.1 million hours worked per week.
Unemployment
The number of persons aged 15-74 years who were unemployed in Q1 2023 stood at 110,700, with an associated Unemployment Rate of 4.1%. The Youth Unemployment Rate (15–24-year-olds) was 8.6% in Q1 2023, up from 7.5% 12 months earlier.
There were 32,100 people in long-term unemployment (unemployed for 12 months or longer) in Q1 2023 - a decrease of 11,500 from Q1 2022. The corresponding rate of long-term unemployment fell from 1.7% to 1.2% over the same period.
Survey Participation
Commenting on the importance of sampled individuals taking part in the LFS, Sam Scriven, added: “Households throughout Ireland are randomly selected to take part in the Labour Force Survey and receive introductory letters by post. Selected households can take part by interview at their home or by phone. These surveys give us a picture of the economic and social situation of the citizens of Ireland with a level of accuracy that no one else can gain. If you are asked to take part in a CSO survey, please do so. It means that when CSO figures are quoted you know they’re accurate, because you told us.”