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The number of persons aged 15-74 years who were unemployed increased by 9,100 (7.4%) to 131,200 in the year to Q2 2024, using standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria. The unadjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-74 years increased from 4.4% to 4.6% over the year to Q2 2024. See Table 2.1.
Unemployment increased by 3,000 (+4.5%) for males to 69,800 in the year to Q2 2024 – this compares with a rise of 6,100 (+11.0%) to 61,400 for females over the same period. The unemployment rate for males was 4.6% in Q2 2024 and Q2 2023, while the corresponding rates for females were 4.5% and 4.2% respectively.
The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 years, known as the Youth Unemployment Rate, stood at 12.0% in Q2 2024 down from 12.2% in Q2 2023. See Table 2.2.
78.7%* of unemployed persons in Q2 2024 were in short-term unemployment (less than one year). Over the year to Q2 2024, short-term unemployment rose by 14,800 (+17.5%) to 99,400, while there was a decrease of 5,400 (-16.7%) in the numbers of long-term unemployed to 26,900. See Table 3.2.
*excluding ‘Not stated’
The long-term unemployment rate decreased from 1.2% in Q2 2023 to 0.9% in Q2 2024. Over a fifth (21.3%)* of unemployed persons were in long-term unemployment in Q2 2024 which is down from 27.6%* a year earlier. See Table 3.2.
*excluding ‘Not stated’
On an annual basis, unemployment increased in six out of eight NUTS 3 regions.
Two of the NUTS 3 regions showed a decrease in unemployment over the year to Q2 2024. The largest decrease occurred in the Mid-West region down (-3,100) or -24.5%.
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