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Monthly Unemployment May 2023

The Monthly Unemployment rate for May 2023 was 3.8%

Online ISSN: 2009-8456
CSO statistical publication, , 11am

Key Findings

In May 2023 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was:

  • Down to 4.1% for males from a revised rate of 4.2% in April 2023 and May 2022.

  • Down to 3.4% for females from a revised rate of 3.5% in April 2023, and a rate of 4.2% in May 2022.

  • At 6.9% for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate), from a revised rate of 7.7% in April 2023.

  • Unchanged at 3.3% for persons aged 25-74 years, from a revised rate in April 2023.

Statistician's Comment

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (31 May 2023) issued Monthly Unemployment Estimates results for May 2023.

Commenting on today’s release, Conor Delves, Statistician in the Labour Market Analysis Section, said: “The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2023 (for all persons aged 15-74 years) was down to 3.8% from a rate of 3.9% in April 2023, and down from a rate of 4.2% in May 2022. In May 2023 the unemployment rate for males was 4.1% and for females was 3.4%.

The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 103,300 in May 2023, compared with 106,500 in April 2023. There was a decrease of 8,700 in the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed in May 2023 when compared with a year earlier.

The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed was down to 60,000 in May 2023, compared with 61,200 in April 2023. In May 2023 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed fell to 43,300 from the 45,400 observed in April 2023.”

Editor's Note

The methodology for the Monthly Unemployment Estimates involves forecasting the number of persons who are unemployed using the trend in the recipient Live Register series. The Department of Social Protection is providing Working Age Income supports to people arriving in Ireland from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive. The Live Register series includes recipients of these supports who have met the relevant criteria. This has impacted on the numbers of unemployed, primarily females, in these monthly estimates.

Data in this release are subject to revision based on updates to the seasonally adjusted series whenever new monthly data are added. In addition, it should be noted that larger revisions can occur when the most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are included in the calculation process.

The Monthly Unemployment Estimates published today for May 2023 have incorporated the LFS benchmarks up to Q1 2023 for the monthly estimates up to March 2023. The estimates for April and May 2023 have been forecasted.These forecasted figures are subject to revision.

Headline Table and Graph

Seasonally Adjusted Monthly Unemployment
 Number of persons unemployed Unemployment rate (%)
May 2022112,0004.2
April 2023106,5003.9
May 2023103,300 3.8
 Number Percentage points
Change in month-3,200-0.1
Change in year-8,700 -0.4
Figure 1: Seasonally Adjusted Monthly Unemployment Rate (ILO), May 2020 to May 2023

Tables

1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - all persons aged 15-74 years

1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years

1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years