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 employment rate for people aged 15-64 years was 74.1% in Quarter 3 (Q3) 2023.
The number of persons aged 15-89 years in employment increased by 101,600 or 4.0% to 2,655,900 persons in the 12 months to Q3 2023.
There were 128,600 unemployed people aged 15-74 years in Q3 2023 using International Labour Organisation (ILO) criteria, with an associated unemployment rate for those aged 15-74 of 4.6%, up from 4.5% in Q3 2022.
The unemployment rate among those aged 15-24 years (the youth unemployment rate) was 12.2% in Q3 2023, up from 12.0% in Q3 2022.
The estimated Labour Force (i.e. the sum of all persons aged 15-89 years who were either employed or unemployed) stood at 2,784,400 in Q3 2023, a rise of 4.2% (111,000) from Q3 2022.
The estimated labour market participation rate for persons aged 15 and over in Q3 2023 was 65.8%, up from 64.8% in Q3 2022.
The estimated total number of hours worked per week in Q3 2023 increased by 1.7 million hours or 2.1% on Q3 2022 figures to 82.0 million hours.
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 Q3 2023.
| Table 1.1 Labour Force Survey Summary Results | ||
| Indicator | Q3 2023 | Annual change 1 |
| Employed persons aged 15-89 years | 2,655,900 | +101,600 |
| Employment rate for those aged 15-64 years | 74.1% | +0.9 pp |
| Unemployed persons aged 15-74 years | 128,600 | +9,500 |
| Unemployment rate for those aged 15-74 years | 4.6% | +0.2 pp |
| In labour force | 2,784,400 | +111,000 |
| Not in labour force | 1,445,900 | - 9,200 |
| 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.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (23 November 2023) issued results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Quarter 3 (Q3) 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 July, August, and September (Q 2023) was 74.1%. The participation rate of 65.8% for this period was the highest observed since Q3 2008.
Employment
The number of persons aged 15-89 years in employment increased by 101,600 or 4.0% to 2,655,900 persons in the year to Q3 2023.
An estimated 573,900 or 21.6% of those in employment worked part-time, and 22.8 % of those in part-time employment were classified as underemployed (i.e. they would like to work more hours for more pay).
Absences from Work and Hours Worked
The number of absences from work (e.g. temporary layoffs from work, family leave, or holidays) during the reference week in Q3 2023 fell by 4.0% to 262,300 year-on-year. This, together with an increase of 4.0% in employment, resulted in a rise of 2.1% or 1.7 million more hours worked per week to 82.0 million hours per week in Q3 2023.
The impact on hours worked varied across the different economic sectors. The 4.7 million hours worked per week in Q3 2023 in the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector was down from 4.8 million in Q3 2022, but remains 700,000 hours below the pre-pandemic (Q3 2019) figure of 5.4 million hours worked per week.
Unemployment
The number of persons aged 15-74 years who were unemployed in Q3 2023 stood at 128,600, with an associated Unemployment Rate of 4.6%. The Youth Unemployment Rate (15-24-year-olds) stood at 12.2% in Q3 2023, up from the rate of 12.0% recorded 12 months earlier.
There were 31,000 people in long-term unemployment (unemployed for 12 months or longer) in Q3 2023 - a decrease of 800 people from Q3 2022. The corresponding rate of long-term unemployment was unchanged at 1.1% over the same period.”
Survey Participation
Commenting on the importance of sampled individuals taking part in the LFS, Sam Scriven, added: “Sampled households receive introductory letters by post asking them to take part in the Labour Force Survey (LFS). A person from a participating household completes the interview either by telephone or by a CSO interviewer visiting the household.
Household 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.”