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E-mail: labour@cso.ie Martina O'Callaghan +353 21 453 5491 Brian Ring +353 21 453 5204
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CSO statistical release, , 11am

Monthly Unemployment

May 2015

 Seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (%)
May 2014250,200 11.7
April 2015210,000 9.8
May 2015209,700 9.8
   Percentage Points
Change in month- 300  0.0
Change in year- 40,500 - 1.9

Monthly unemployment rate of 9.8% in May 2015

Figure 1 Monthly unemployment rate (ILO), May 2012 to May 2015
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2015 was 9.8%, unchanged from 9.8% in April 2015 and down from 11.7% in May 2014. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 209,700 in May 2015, a decrease of 300 when compared to April 2015 or a decrease of 40,500 when compared to May 2014.

Summary points for May

  • In May 2015 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 11.0% for males, compared to 11.1% in April 2015 and 13.4% in May 2014.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females in May 2015 was 8.3%, compared to 8.2% in April 2015 and 9.5% in May 2014.
  • The number of males unemployed in May 2015 was 129,600. This represents a decrease of 1,500 when compared to April 2015. In May 2015 the number of females unemployed was 80,000, an increase of 1,100 from April 2015.
  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 20.2% in May 2015. This compares to 20.7% in April 2015.

 

The data in this release are subject to revision, caused by 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 Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) data are included in the calculation process. Revised figures will be produced upon the publication of each new set of benckmark figures from the QNHS and these revisions will be included in the QNHS release.

 

Table 1a Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - All persons aged 15-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2013May 187,000110,800297,800 15.811.413.8
 June 184,100106,400290,500 15.511.013.5
 July 180,70099,500280,300 15.210.313.0
 August 176,40096,700273,000 14.810.012.7
 September 172,20097,400269,500 14.410.112.5
 October 166,70099,300266,000 13.910.312.3
 November 163,400100,300263,800 13.710.412.2
 December 162,800100,000262,700 13.610.312.2
          
2014January 164,00098,700262,700 13.810.212.2
 February 164,40097,000261,500 13.910.112.2
 March 163,20096,000259,200 13.810.012.1
 April 160,90092,400253,300 13.69.611.8
 May 159,00091,200250,200 13.49.511.7
 June 154,60089,700244,300 13.19.311.4
 July 151,00090,500241,500 12.89.411.3
 August 148,10090,200238,400 12.59.311.1
 September 144,80088,700233,400 12.29.210.9
 October 142,20085,200227,400 12.08.810.6
 November 140,30082,200222,400 11.88.510.4
 December 139,00080,600219,500 11.78.410.2
          
2015January 138,20079,700217,900 11.78.310.1
 February 136,20078,700214,900 11.58.210.0
 March 133,80077,000210,900 11.48.09.9
 April 131,10078,900210,000 11.18.29.8
 May 129,60080,000209,700 11.08.39.8
Open in Excel: Monthly Unemployment May 2015 Table 1a (XLS 46KB)
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Table 1b Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 15-24 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2013May 35,30025,00060,300 31.323.927.7
 June 35,10023,90058,900 30.923.127.2
 July 34,60022,90057,600 30.522.626.7
 August 33,60022,10055,800 29.822.026.1
 September 32,40022,60055,000 28.923.026.1
 October 30,60023,00053,600 27.823.825.9
 November 29,30022,90052,200 27.024.125.6
 December 29,40022,70052,100 27.224.225.8
          
2014January 30,20022,10052,300 28.023.726.0
 February 30,60021,70052,300 28.423.426.1
 March 29,90021,70051,600 28.023.526.0
 April 28,70021,30050,000 27.223.625.6
 May 28,00020,60048,600 26.822.925.0
 June 27,10019,70046,800 26.321.724.1
 July 26,90019,10046,000 26.120.923.7
 August 26,90018,10045,000 26.119.422.9
 September 26,50017,20043,700 25.818.922.5
 October 26,30015,80042,200 25.617.721.9
 November 26,40015,30041,700 25.417.321.7
 December 26,50015,50042,000 25.317.721.8
          
2015January 26,90016,40043,300 25.518.822.4
 February 26,50016,10042,600 25.118.822.2
 March 25,20014,90040,100 24.217.721.3
 April 23,90014,30038,200 23.217.520.7
 May 22,70014,40037,100 22.417.520.2
Open in Excel: Monthly Unemployment May 2015 Table 1b (XLS 46KB)
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Table 1c Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment by sex - persons aged 25-74 years
          
   Number of persons Unemployment rate (%)
   MalesFemalesAll Persons MalesFemalesAll Persons
2013May 151,60085,800237,500 14.19.912.2
 June 149,10082,500231,600 13.99.511.9
 July 146,10076,600222,700 13.68.911.5
 August 142,70074,500217,300 13.28.611.2
 September 139,80074,700214,500 12.98.611.0
 October 136,10076,300212,500 12.58.810.9
 November 134,10077,500211,600 12.38.910.8
 December 133,40077,200210,600 12.38.910.8
          
2014January 133,80076,600210,400 12.48.810.8
 February 133,80075,400209,200 12.48.610.7
 March 133,20074,300207,500 12.48.510.7
 April 132,20071,100203,300 12.38.210.4
 May 131,00070,600201,500 12.18.110.3
 June 127,40070,000197,400 11.88.010.1
 July 124,10071,300195,400 11.58.210.0
 August 121,30072,100193,400 11.28.39.9
 September 118,30071,400189,700 10.98.29.7
 October 115,90069,400185,300 10.77.99.5
 November 113,90066,900180,800 10.57.69.2
 December 112,40065,000177,500 10.47.49.1
          
2015January 111,20063,300174,600 10.37.28.9
 February 109,70062,600172,300 10.27.18.8
 March 108,60062,200170,800 10.17.18.8
 April 107,20064,600171,800 9.97.38.8
 May 106,90065,600172,500 9.97.48.8
Open in Excel: Monthly unemployment May 2015 Table 1c (XLS 46KB)
upArrowHide Table

Background Notes

Purpose

The purpose of this release is to provide a detailed series of monthly unemployment estimates. The release contains both monthly unemployment rates and monthly unemployment volumes. These outputs now replace the seasonally adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rate (SUR) as the definitive measure of monthly unemployment.

Calculation of Monthly Estimates:

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) provides benchmark estimates of employment and unemployment for each quarter since the beginning of 1998. These quarterly benchmark estimates are then used to compile monthly data using the Proportional Denton method. The main characteristic of this method is that the monthly Live Register series is used as an indicator to disaggregate the quarterly QNHS unemployment series into a monthly series in such a way as to minimise the differences between two consecutive months. It also ensures that the average of three months in a particular calendar quarter is equal to the corresponding QNHS estimate.

For months where the quarterly unemployment data is not yet available, the ratio of the QNHS monthly estimate to the Live Register monthly estimate (i.e. the benchmark to indicator ratio) is forecast forward in order to extrapolate a monthly QNHS estimate. The monthly series is revised each quarter when the latest quarterly data becomes available. This approach adheres to agreed international practice.

Seasonal Adjustment:

To correct for typical seasonal patterns, the data series included have been concurrently seasonally adjusted. This seasonal adjustment is completed by applying the X-12-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau In the case of these monthly unemployment estimates, seasonal adjustment is conducted using the indirect approach, where each individual series is independently adjusted.  To preserve consistency between the individual and aggregate series, the series for gender, age group and total monthly unemployed are then created from these component series. The series for monthly unemployment rates are likewise created from these component series.

Additional Background Information:

Further information regarding the QNHS and Live Register series are available from each respective release.

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