Ireland’s unemployment rate down to 10pc in March
Ireland’s unemployment rate fell to 10pc in March, down from 10.1pc a month earlier, according to new CSO figures.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from the most recent Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) was 10.4pc in the fourth quarter of 2014.
On a seasonally adjusted basis the Live Register total recorded a monthly decrease of 4,700 in March 2015, representing a 1.3pc drop and reducing the seasonally adjusted total to 350,600.
In unadjusted terms there were 348,676 people signing on the Live Register in March 2015. This represents an annual decrease of 42,556 (down 10.9pc).
“While the overall number of people out of work is still too high, these latest figures from the CSO are welcome and confirm the trends of falling unemployment in every part of the country,” said Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash. “In the last year alone, the Live Register has fallen by 10.9pc- or more than 42,500 people.
“The signals for the future are very positive. With the abolition of milk quotas today and the opportunities for job creation this will bring outside the main urban centres, a new round of Garda recruitment in Templemore and plans to develop a major tourist resort in Co Longford, all announced today alone, I believe we will see unemployment rates hit 9pc by the end of this year.”