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Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023

Employment

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.

Employment

Employment up 25,900 (1.9%) for males and 62,500 (5.2%) for females in the year to Q2 2023

Online ISSN: 2565-5728

CSO statistical publication, 24 August 2023, 11am

2,643,000

Persons in employment in Q2 2023

this continues to be the highest level of people in employment since the series began in Q1 1998

Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023

Numbers Employed

Using standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria, an estimated 2,643,000 persons were in employment in Q2 2023, up 3.5% (88,400) from 2,554,600 in Q2 2022.

The increase of 88,400 (+3.5%) in employment is composed of increases of 25,900 (+1.9%) for males and 62,500 (+5.2%) for females in the year to Q2 2023. See Table 2.1.

See Monthly Estimates of Payroll Employees using Administrative Data Sources outputs for supplementary employment analysis.

Table 2.1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by Sex and ILO Economic Status

Table 2.1 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by sex and ILO Economic Status
'000
ILO Economic Status		Q2 21	Q1 22	Q2 22	Q3 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23
Males
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		1,362.7	1,399.8	1,423.4	1,431.2	1,425.7	1,447.4	1,452.5
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		1,263.2	1,331.0	1,360.2	1,371.8	1,368.5	1,384.7	1,386.1
full-time		1,108.1	1,162.2	1,190.4	1,197.8	1,194.8	1,206.9	1,217.9
part-time		155.1	168.9	169.8	173.9	173.7	177.9	168.2
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	101.4	131.6	126.0	133.0	135.6	137.7	118.4
	part-time, underemployed	53.7	37.3	43.8	41.0	38.2	40.2	49.8
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		99.5	68.8	63.2	59.4	57.2	62.7	66.4
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		74.3	53.8	49.4	45.9	48.3	49.1	52.6
seeking part-time work		15.7	10.3	9.7	11.2	[6.9]	11.5	12.0
seeking work as self-employed		[9.5]	*	*	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		609.4	594.1	582.2	589.6	609.2	602.4	605.5
Potential additional labour force		82.8	38.9	42.3	34.9	27.0	31.6	49.0
Others		526.6	555.2	539.9	554.7	582.2	570.8	556.6
Total males aged 15 or over		1,972.1	1,993.9	2,005.5	2,020.8	2,034.9	2,049.8	2,058.0
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		7.4	5.0	4.5	4.2	4.0	4.4	4.6
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		69.1	70.2	71.0	70.8	70.1	70.6	70.6

Females
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		1,170.5	1,232.7	1,251.1	1,242.2	1,260.8	1,271.7	1,311.7
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		1,085.9	1,174.7	1,194.4	1,182.5	1,206.0	1,223.7	1,256.9
full-time		764.4	810.9	820.1	820.9	825.4	839.9	866.1
part-time		321.4	363.9	374.3	361.6	380.6	383.8	390.8
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	252.3	301.0	303.3	293.3	316.3	313.3	300.9
	part-time, underemployed	69.2	62.9	70.9	68.3	64.3	70.5	89.9
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		84.6	58.0	56.7	59.7	54.8	48.0	54.8
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		51.2	35.4	34.5	35.1	34.2	32.3	32.8
seeking part-time work		28.2	19.6	19.5	23.1	18.0	13.2	21.1
seeking work as self-employed		*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		873.3	836.9	842.6	865.5	864.1	865.9	840.3
Potential additional labour force		95.4	42.0	42.2	38.2	32.8	46.9	50.3
Others		777.9	794.8	800.4	827.3	831.3	819.0	790.0
Total females aged 15 or over		2,043.8	2,069.5	2,093.7	2,107.7	2,124.9	2,137.6	2,152.0
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		7.2	4.7	4.5	4.8	4.4	3.8	4.2
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		57.3	59.6	59.8	58.9	59.3	59.5	61.0

All persons
In labour force (Persons aged 15-89)		2,533.2	2,632.5	2,674.5	2,673.4	2,686.5	2,719.1	2,764.2
In employment (Persons aged 15-89)		2,349.1	2,505.8	2,554.6	2,554.3	2,574.5	2,608.5	2,643.0
full-time		1,872.6	1,973.0	2,010.5	2,018.8	2,020.2	2,046.8	2,083.9
part-time		476.5	532.8	544.1	535.5	554.3	561.7	559.1
of which:	part-time, not underemployed	353.6	432.6	429.3	426.2	451.9	451.0	419.4
	part-time, underemployed	122.9	100.2	114.7	109.3	102.4	110.7	139.7
Unemployed (Persons aged 15-74)		184.1	126.7	119.9	119.1	112.0	110.7	121.2
seeking full-time work/future job-starter		125.5	89.2	84.0	81.0	82.4	81.3	85.4
seeking part-time work		43.9	30.0	29.2	34.3	25.0	24.7	33.1
seeking work as self-employed		14.7	[7.6]	[6.7]	*	*	*	*
Not in labour force (Persons aged 15+)		1,482.7	1,431.0	1,424.8	1,455.1	1,473.3	1,468.3	1,445.8
Potential additional labour force		178.2	81.0	84.4	73.1	59.9	78.5	99.2
Others		1,304.5	1,350.0	1,340.4	1,382.0	1,413.5	1,389.8	1,346.6
Total persons aged 15 or over		4,015.9	4,063.5	4,099.3	4,128.5	4,159.9	4,187.4	4,210.1
Unemployment rate % (Persons aged 15-74)		7.3	4.8	4.5	4.5	4.2	4.1	4.4
Participation rate % (Persons aged 15+)		63.1	64.8	65.2	64.8	64.6	64.9	65.7

Employment rate % (Persons aged 15-64)
Male		73.4	77.2	78.4	78.8	78.0	78.1	78.0
Female		63.9	68.6	68.8	67.8	68.5	69.2	70.5
Total persons		68.6	72.8	73.5	73.2	73.2	73.6	74.2
¹ Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses []. In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023 Table 2.1 (XLS 44KB)

61.0%

Employment rate for persons aged 60-64 in Q2 2023

up from a rate of 56.3% in Q2 2022

Source: CSO Ireland, Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023

Employment Rates

The employment rate for those aged 15-64 was 74.2% in Q2 2023 compared to 73.5% in Q2 2022 and 68.6% in Q2 2021. In Q2 2023, the employment rate for males aged 15-64 years was 78.0%, compared to 70.5% for females.

Looking at the rates by age group, the employment rate was lowest among those aged 15-19 years (28.4%) and highest among those aged 35-44 years (85.6%). The rate of youth employment, those aged 15-24, stood at 48.0%; slightly higher for females (48.6%) than for males (47.5%). See Tables 2.1 and 2.2.

Table 2.2 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by key Economic Rates, Sex and Age Group

Table 2.2 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by key economic rates, sex, age group and quarter
%
		Employment rate (15-64)			Unemployment rate (15-74)			Participation rate (15+)
		Q2 21	Q2 22	Q2 23	Q2 21	Q2 22	Q2 23	Q2 21	Q2 22	Q2 23
Males
	15-19	19.4	28.0	27.8	31.5	18.6	17.3	28.3	34.4	33.6
	20-24	61.9	70.1	68.7	17.0	9.6	10.6	74.6	77.5	76.8
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	40.2	48.5	47.5	21.1	12.4	12.7	50.9	55.4	54.4
	25-34	83.5	86.1	85.7	6.3	5.2	5.6	89.1	90.8	90.8
	35-44	88.8	92.3	90.8	4.3	2.5	2.5	92.8	94.7	93.2
	45-54	83.7	87.8	88.5	5.4	2.7	2.5	88.5	90.2	90.7
	55-59	75.5	82.2	81.1	7.3	2.2	3.5	81.4	84.0	84.0
	60-64	59.4	66.9	69.3	6.6	4.3	4.2	63.6	69.8	72.4
	65-74	:	:	:	3.3	2.6	1.3	29.9	28.5	28.2
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	8.1	8.9	8.0
	Total males	73.4	78.4	78.0	7.4	4.5	4.6	69.1	71.0	70.6

Females
	15-19	18.9	30.6	29.0	33.7	16.0	17.9	28.5	36.4	35.4
	20-24	58.8	68.3	69.2	15.6	7.5	8.4	69.6	73.9	75.6
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	38.4	49.1	48.6	21.0	10.4	11.6	48.6	54.8	55.0
	25-34	75.2	80.4	79.4	6.2	3.9	4.3	80.2	83.7	82.9
	35-44	74.6	77.0	80.8	3.9	4.4	3.0	77.6	80.5	83.3
	45-54	72.3	75.8	78.6	5.5	2.9	2.1	76.6	78.1	80.2
	55-59	63.5	68.8	68.4	6.2	3.1	3.0	67.7	71.0	70.5
	60-64	44.6	46.2	53.0	5.2	2.7	2.1	47.1	47.4	54.2
	65-74	:	:	:	4.1	2.1	3.3	13.4	14.0	14.7
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	1.4	1.8	1.6
	Total females	63.9	68.8	70.5	7.2	4.5	4.2	57.3	59.8	61.0

All persons
	15-19	19.2	29.3	28.4	32.6	17.3	17.6	28.4	35.4	34.5
	20-24	60.4	69.2	68.9	16.3	8.6	9.6	72.2	75.7	76.2
	Total 15-24 (Youths)	39.3	48.8	48.0	21.1	11.4	12.2	49.8	55.1	54.7
	25-34	79.3	83.2	82.5	6.3	4.6	5.0	84.6	87.2	86.9
	35-44	81.5	84.3	85.6	4.1	3.4	2.8	85.0	87.3	88.0
	45-54	78.0	81.7	83.4	5.4	2.8	2.3	82.5	84.0	85.4
	55-59	69.4	75.4	74.6	6.8	2.6	3.3	74.4	77.4	77.1
	60-64	51.9	56.3	61.0	6.0	3.6	3.3	55.2	58.5	63.1
	65-74	:	:	:	3.5	2.5	2.0	21.5	21.1	21.3
	75+	:	:	:	:	:	:	4.4	4.9	4.4
	Total persons	68.6	73.5	74.2	7.3	4.5	4.4	63.1	65.2	65.7
¹ : Not applicable

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023 Table 2.2 (XLS 43KB)

Economic Sector

The economic sectors that saw the largest % year-on-year growth in Q2 2023 were the:

Public Administration & Defence; Compulsory Social Security sector, which increased by 14,200 or 11.2% in the year to Q2 2023
Other NACE Activities sector, which increased by 9,600 or 8.9%
Human Health & Social Work Activities sector increased by 18,600 or 5.6% in the year to Q2 2023

Decreases were observed in the number of persons in employment in the year to Q2 2023 in the:

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector, which decreased by 6,600 or -6.3%
Industry (B to E) sector – down 3,900 or -1.2%

See Table 2.3.

Table 2.3 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector

Table 2.3 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector
'000
Economic sector (NACE Rev.2)		Q2 21	Q1 22	Q2 22	Q3 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23
Males
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing

B-F	Total Industry	338.3	363.7	374.2	383.1	372.6	375.8	369.4
B-E	Industry	221.3	216.7	222.4	227.8	226.3	227.9	214.4
F	Construction	117.1	147.0	151.8	155.3	146.3	148.0	155.0

G-U	Total Services	828.1	874.2	890.2	900.7	907.0	921.3	929.8
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	155.1	153.4	164.5	162.8	161.0	169.1	170.9
H	Transportation and storage	81.3	92.0	89.0	87.5	88.5	92.6	94.4
I	Accommodation and food service activities	57.9	67.0	72.9	77.1	85.3	78.8	79.4
J	Information and communication	99.9	114.8	114.8	111.1	108.6	115.2	118.0
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	67.5	70.3	66.8	69.2	69.6	72.0	69.2
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	85.5	84.8	90.8	97.6	99.3	94.0	96.6
N	Administrative and support service activities	62.9	58.6	61.0	66.3	59.5	60.4	63.6
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	59.4	61.1	59.1	64.1	67.3	67.0	67.6
P	Education	52.1	56.0	57.3	51.9	53.1	55.4	56.8
Q	Human health and social work activities	61.2	70.9	71.2	70.8	72.2	70.4	65.5
R-U	Other NACE activities	45.4	45.3	42.7	42.4	42.6	46.2	47.9
Not stated		*	*	[4.8]	*	*	*	*
Total males		1,263.2	1,331.0	1,360.2	1,371.8	1,368.5	1,384.7	1,386.1

Females
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	13.1	15.5	14.9	11.8	17.3	16.0	14.9

B-F	Total Industry	100.5	110.9	114.3	118.3	113.6	115.2	118.0
B-E	Industry	90.2	98.5	98.8	102.6	96.7	102.4	102.8
F	Construction	10.2	12.3	15.5	15.7	16.9	12.9	15.2

G-U	Total Services	969.1	1,046.0	1,061.0	1,047.2	1,071.3	1,089.8	1,122.0
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	147.6	148.4	156.7	152.5	159.4	162.3	166.5
H	Transportation and storage	19.1	21.2	21.9	21.0	24.6	18.1	20.4
I	Accommodation and food service activities	63.0	95.6	95.3	92.9	85.1	92.5	97.1
J	Information and communication	41.1	48.8	50.1	48.4	56.0	53.4	55.4
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	64.1	65.0	64.1	58.2	63.1	60.5	67.3
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	72.8	77.5	75.8	68.2	71.4	72.6	79.0
N	Administrative and support service activities	34.6	43.7	45.0	44.6	50.4	52.5	47.3
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	69.5	72.6	68.1	68.1	70.2	72.2	73.9
P	Education	160.5	154.9	158.2	154.4	151.8	154.7	160.7
Q	Human health and social work activities	244.6	254.3	259.9	265.7	264.3	277.4	284.2
R-U	Other NACE activities	52.4	64.0	65.9	73.2	75.1	73.7	70.3
Not stated		*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Total females		1,085.9	1,174.7	1,194.4	1,182.5	1,206.0	1,223.7	1,256.9

All persons
A	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	107.9	103.5	105.8	94.6	100.8	99.1	99.2

B-F	Total Industry	438.8	474.6	488.4	501.4	486.2	491.1	487.4
B-E	Industry	311.5	315.2	321.1	330.4	323.0	330.2	317.2
F	Construction	127.3	159.3	167.3	171.0	163.2	160.8	170.2

G-U	Total Services	1,797.2	1,920.2	1,951.3	1,947.9	1,978.4	2,011.1	2,051.8
G	Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	302.7	301.9	321.2	315.3	320.3	331.3	337.3
H	Transportation and storage	100.4	113.2	110.9	108.5	113.1	110.7	114.8
I	Accommodation and food service activities	120.9	162.6	168.2	170.0	170.4	171.4	176.5
J	Information and communication	141.0	163.6	164.9	159.5	164.6	168.6	173.4
K-L	Financial, insurance and real estate activities	131.6	135.3	130.9	127.4	132.7	132.5	136.5
M	Professional, scientific and technical activities	158.3	162.3	166.7	165.7	170.7	166.6	175.6
N	Administrative and support service activities	97.4	102.3	105.9	110.9	110.0	113.0	110.8
O	Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	128.8	133.7	127.2	132.2	137.5	139.2	141.5
P	Education	212.6	211.0	215.5	206.3	204.9	210.1	217.5
Q	Human health and social work activities	305.8	325.2	331.1	336.6	336.5	347.8	349.7
R-U	Other NACE activities	97.8	109.3	108.6	115.6	117.7	119.9	118.2
Not stated		*	[7.5]	9.1	10.4	[9.2]	[7.2]	*
Total persons		2,349.1	2,505.8	2,554.6	2,554.3	2,574.5	2,608.5	2,643.0
¹ Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses [].

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023 Table 2.3 (XLS 47KB)

Employment Status

The number of employees increased by 94,100 (+4.3%) in the year to Q2 2023 to 2,286,200, while the number of self-employed decreased by 5,500 (-1.6%) to 335,400.

The increase in overall employment of 88,400 in the year to Q2 2023 was made up of 73,400 (+3.7%) persons in full-time employment and 15,000 (+2.8%) persons in part-time employment. See Tables 2.1 and 2.4.

Table 2.4 Persons aged 15 – 89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and employment status

NUTS 3 Regions

Employment increased over the year in all NUTS 3 regions. The Mid-East region saw the largest percentage increase at 6.3%, followed by the West region at 6.0%. See Table 2.5.

Table 2.5 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions and ILO Economic Status

Table 2.5 Persons aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions and ILO Economic Status
000
Region		Q2 21	Q1 22	Q2 22	Q3 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23
Northern and Western
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	407.6	429.0	436.4	437.2	442.3	450.6	456.3
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	27.6	18.3	17.4	22.4	18.1	18.2	17.9
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	435.2	447.3	453.8	459.6	460.4	468.8	474.2
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	6.4	4.1	3.9	4.9	4.0	3.9	3.8
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	61.6	62.3	62.7	62.8	62.5	63.1	63.5
Border
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	184.4	193.6	199.3	200.0	201.3	205.4	205.1
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	[11.1]	[9.8]	[8.0]	11.4	[9.3]	[8.6]	[8.3]
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	195.5	203.4	207.3	211.4	210.6	214.0	213.4
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	5.7	4.8	3.9	5.4	4.5	4.0	3.9
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	59.7	60.9	61.6	62.0	61.6	62.2	61.7
West
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	223.2	235.5	237.1	237.2	241.0	245.2	251.2
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	16.5	[8.5]	[9.4]	11.0	[8.8]	[9.6]	[9.6]
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	239.7	243.9	246.4	248.2	249.8	254.8	260.8
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.0	3.5	3.8	4.5	3.6	3.8	3.7
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	63.2	63.5	63.7	63.4	63.3	63.8	65.0

Southern
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	751.8	801.0	821.6	822.7	822.3	833.4	841.2
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	64.8	36.3	41.9	33.1	34.5	28.5	42.5
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	816.6	837.4	863.5	855.8	856.8	861.9	883.7
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	8.0	4.4	4.9	3.9	4.0	3.3	4.8
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	61.5	62.3	63.7	62.7	62.2	62.2	63.4
Mid-West
	In employment ('000) (Perons aged 15-89)	226.4	230.5	245.8	239.5	240.0	241.9	248.7
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	18.1	10.3	11.0	11.2	11.0	10.1	12.5
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	244.5	240.8	256.8	250.8	251.0	252.1	261.2
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.5	4.3	4.3	4.5	4.4	4.0	4.8
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	61.8	60.3	63.8	61.9	61.3	61.3	63.0
South-East
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	193.3	204.4	209.3	216.9	213.5	217.3	215.3
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	18.5	12.9	[12.2]	[8.4]	[12.1]	[8.7]	13.5
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	211.8	217.3	221.4	225.3	225.6	226.0	228.9
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	8.8	6.0	5.5	3.8	5.4	3.9	6.0
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	59.9	60.6	61.2	61.8	61.4	61.2	61.6
South-West
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	332.2	366.1	366.6	366.3	368.8	374.2	377.1
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	28.2	13.1	18.7	13.4	11.4	9.7	16.4
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	360.4	379.2	385.3	379.7	380.1	383.9	393.6
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.9	3.5	4.9	3.6	3.0	2.5	4.2
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	62.3	64.8	65.2	63.7	63.2	63.5	64.8
Eastern and Midland
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	1,189.7	1,275.7	1,296.6	1,294.4	1,309.9	1,324.4	1,345.5
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	91.7	72.1	60.6	63.6	59.4	64.0	60.9
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	1,281.3	1,347.8	1,357.2	1,358.0	1,369.4	1,388.5	1,406.4
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.2	5.4	4.5	4.7	4.4	4.6	4.3
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	64.7	67.3	67.2	66.9	66.9	67.4	68.0
Dublin
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	717.2	762.8	774.1	771.3	775.5	785.8	798.2
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	56.2	46.5	37.3	40.4	37.9	41.8	41.8
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	773.5	809.3	811.4	811.7	813.4	827.6	840.0
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.3	5.8	4.6	5.0	4.7	5.1	5.0
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	66.4	68.6	68.4	68.1	67.7	68.4	69.1
Mid-East
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	334.8	363.3	369.5	374.3	384.8	381.8	392.9
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	23.8	18.2	19.1	15.9	16.1	15.7	13.3
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	358.6	381.5	388.6	390.1	400.8	397.5	406.1
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	6.7	4.8	4.9	4.1	4.0	4.0	3.3
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	62.2	65.4	65.6	65.5	67.0	66.2	67.3
Midland
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	137.6	149.7	153.0	148.8	149.7	156.9	154.4
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	11.7	[7.4]	*	[7.3]	*	*	*
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	149.3	157.1	157.2	156.2	155.1	163.4	160.2
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.8	4.7	2.7	4.7	3.5	4.0	3.6
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	62.4	65.6	65.0	64.3	63.1	65.7	64.2

State
	In employment ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	2,349.1	2,505.8	2,554.6	2,554.3	2,574.5	2,608.5	2,643.0
	Unemployed ('000) (Persons aged 15-74)	184.1	126.7	119.9	119.1	112.0	110.7	121.2
	In labour force ('000) (Persons aged 15-89)	2,533.2	2,632.5	2,674.5	2,673.4	2,686.5	2,719.1	2,764.2
	Unemployment rate (%) (Persons aged 15-74)	7.3	4.8	4.5	4.5	4.2	4.1	4.4
	Participation rate (%) (Persons aged 15+)	63.1	64.8	65.2	64.8	64.6	64.9	65.7
¹ Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses []. In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.

Open in Excel: Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023 Table 2.5 (XLS 46KB)

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Labour Force Survey Quarter 2 2023

Employment

Employment

Employment up 25,900 (1.9%) for males and 62,500 (5.2%) for females in the year to Q2 2023

Numbers Employed

Employment Rates

Economic Sector

Employment Status

NUTS 3 Regions

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Table 2.4 Persons aged 15-89 years in employment (ILO) classified by sex and employment status
'000
Employment status		Q2 21	Q1 22	Q2 22	Q3 22	Q4 22	Q1 23	Q2 23
Males
	Self employed (with paid employees)	62.4	73.6	78.3	76.5	81.1	73.2	74.9
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	166.9	167.8	181.4	175.7	165.0	175.3	173.6
	Total self employed	229.3	241.4	259.7	252.1	246.1	248.5	248.6
	Employee	1,022.3	1,078.1	1,089.2	1,109.3	1,111.5	1,124.8	1,127.7
	Assisting relative	11.6	11.6	11.3	10.4	10.9	11.4	9.8
	Total males	1,263.2	1,331.0	1,360.2	1,371.8	1,368.5	1,384.7	1,386.1

Females
	Self employed (with paid employees)	21.0	23.3	21.3	22.9	21.7	23.5	24.5
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	56.3	60.7	59.9	60.2	64.0	61.1	62.4
	Total self employed	77.2	84.0	81.3	83.1	85.7	84.7	86.9
	Employee	998.6	1,079.9	1,102.9	1,088.4	1,108.2	1,124.4	1,158.4
	Assisting relative	10.1	10.9	10.3	11.0	12.1	14.7	11.6
	Total females	1,085.9	1,174.7	1,194.4	1,182.5	1,206.0	1,223.7	1,256.9

All persons
	Self employed (with paid employees)	83.4	96.8	99.7	99.4	102.9	96.8	99.4
	Self employed (with no paid employees)	223.2	228.6	241.3	235.8	229.0	236.4	236.0
	Total self employed	306.6	325.4	341.0	335.2	331.8	333.2	335.4
	Employee	2,020.9	2,158.0	2,192.0	2,197.7	2,219.7	2,249.2	2,286.2
	Assisting relative	21.7	22.4	21.6	21.4	23.0	26.1	21.5
	Total persons	2,349.1	2,505.8	2,554.6	2,554.3	2,574.5	2,608.5	2,643.0
¹ Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses [].