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.
Numbers unemployed decreased by 10.1% to 127,400 in the year to Q4 2021
The number of persons aged 15-74 years who were unemployed decreased by 14,400 (-10.1%) to 127,400 in the year to Q4 2021, using the standard LFS labour market criteria. The overall unadjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.9% to 4.9% over the year to Q4 2021. See Table 9.1.
Unemployment decreased by 10,600 (-13.5%) for males to 68,100 in the year to Q4 2021 compared with a fall of 3,700 (-5.9%) to 59,200 for females over the same period. The unemployment rate for males was 4.9% in Q4 2021 down from 6.1% a year earlier while the corresponding rates for females were 4.8% and 5.7% respectively. See Tables 9.1 and 9.7.
While the unemployment rate for persons aged 15-74 stood at 4.9% in Q4 2021 there were differences by age with a rate as low as 2.1% for those aged 65-74 years and as high as 14.8% for those aged 15-19 years. Those age groups also had the lowest and highest unemployment rates a year earlier but the rates then stood at 1.7% and 20.0% respectively. The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 years is known as the Youth Unemployment Rate; it stood at 10.2% in Q4 2021 down from 14.2% in Q4 2020. See Table 9.8.
On an annual basis, unemployment decreased in five of the eight NUTS 3 regions with the largest decrease occurring in the South-West region (-9,700) followed by the Mid-West region (-5,200). See Table 9.9.
Over six in ten unemployed people in Q4 2021 were in short-term unemployment (less than one year). Over the year to Q4 2021, short-term unemployment fell by 23,200 (-23.3%) to 76,500 while there was a rise of 7,500 (+20.3%) in the numbers of long-term unemployed to 44,300.
The long-term unemployment rate increased from 1.5% to 1.7% between Q4 2020 and Q4 2021. Over a third (34.8%) of unemployed persons were in long-term unemployment in Q4 2021 which is up from 26.0% a year earlier. See Table 9.6.
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