The unemployment rate in the Republic of Ireland was 3.9 percent in February 2025, compared with 3.9 percent in the previous month. Between 2000 and 2007, Ireland's unemployment rate was broadly stable, fluctuating between 3.9 and 5.4 percent. Following the global financial crisis, however, Ireland's unemployment rate increased dramatically, eventually peaking at 16.1 percent in early 2012. For the next eight years, unemployment gradually fell, eventually reaching pre-crisis levels in the late 2010s. This was, however, followed by an uptick in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which peaked at 7.6 percent in March 2021, before falling to pre-pandemic levels by February 2022. Risk and rewards of the Irish economic model After being quite hard hit by the global financial crisis of 2008, Ireland staged a strong recovery in the mid-2010s, and was frequently the EU's fastest growing economy between 2014 and 2022. This growth, was however, fueled in part by multinational companies, such as Apple, basing their European operations in the country. As of 2022, an adjusted measure of gross national income valued Ireland's economy at around 273 billion Euros, rather than the 506 billion Euros GDP figure. Ireland's close economic relationship with American tech companies also leaves it vulnerable to the political weather in the United States. It is currently unclear, for example, what the recent return to power of Donald Trump as President in early 2025 could mean for the Irish economy going forward. Ireland's labor market As of the third quarter of 2024, there were approximately 2.79 million people employed in the Republic of Ireland. Of these workers, 379,200 people worked in Ireland's human health and social work sector, the most of any industry at that time. Other sectors with high employment levels include wholesale and retail trade, at 323,500 people, and education, at 228,200 people. While unemployment still remains quite low, some indicators suggest a moderate loosening of the labor market. Job vacancies, are slightly down from their peak of 35,300 in Q2 2022, amounting to 28,900 in Q3 2024, while youth unemployment has begun to tick upwards, and was 11.9 percent in January 2025.

The unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase from the previous quarter, when it was 1.8 percent.

Employment Rate in Ireland decreased to 74.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 75.30 percent in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Ireland Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Ireland: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2023 is 4.34 percent, a decline from 4.48 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.99 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1991 to 2023 is 8.78 percent. The minimum value, 3.68 percent, was reached in 2001 while the maximum of 15.77 percent was recorded in 1991.

Key information about Ireland Unemployment Rate

• Ireland Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.10% in Jul 2023, from the previously reported figure of 4.20% in Jun 2023.
• Ireland Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1998 to Jul 2023, with an average rate of 5.80%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 16.10% in Mar 2012 and a record low of 3.90% in Apr 2001.
• The data is reported by reported by Central Statistics Office.
• In the latest reports, Ireland Population reached 5.10 million people in Apr 2022.

Ireland: Unemployment rate for males: The latest value from 2023 is 4.39 percent, an increase from 4.38 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.42 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1991 to 2023 is 9.25 percent. The minimum value, 3.78 percent, was reached in 2001 while the maximum of 17.7 percent was recorded in 2011.

The youth unemployment rate in the Republic of Ireland was 11.3 percent in February 2025, compared with 11.8 percent in the previous month.

Ireland - Employment rates of recent graduates was 87.20% in December of 2022, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Ireland - Employment rates of recent graduates - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Ireland - Employment rates of recent graduates reached a record high of 90.40% in December of 2007 and a record low of 70.80% in December of 2012.

Ireland: Unemployment rate forecast: The latest value from 2028 is 4.49 percent, unchanged from 4.49 percent in 2027. In comparison, the world average is 6.50 percent, based on data from 99 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1985 to 2028 is 9.8 percent. The minimum value, 4.18 percent, was reached in 2001 while the maximum of 19 percent was recorded in 1991.

The unemployment rate in Ireland decreased to 4.34 percent compared to the previous year. This marks the lowest unemployment rate during the observed period. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.

Ireland - Harmonised unemployment rate: Less than 25 years Males was 11.10% in February of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Ireland - Harmonised unemployment rate: Less than 25 years Males - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Ireland - Harmonised unemployment rate: Less than 25 years Males reached a record high of 13.30% in December of 2024 and a record low of 7.30% in February of 2022.

Key information about Ireland Labour Force Participation Rate

• Ireland Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 66.6 % in Sep 2024, compared with 66.0 % in the previous quarter.
• Ireland Labour Force Participation Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1998 to Sep 2024, with an average rate of 62.4 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 67.3 % in Sep 2007 and a record low of 56.9 % in Jun 2020.
• Ireland Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by Central Statistics Office.
• In the latest reports, Ireland Population reached 5.4 million people in Apr 2024.
• Unemployment Rate of Ireland dropped to 4.1 % in Jul 2023.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 4,147.6 USD in Jun 2024.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Ireland was reported at 4.288 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the employment rate of the Republic of Ireland for those aged between 15 and 64 was 74.3 percent, compared with 75.3 percent in the previous quarter.

Ireland IE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 6.399 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.890 % for 2016. Ireland IE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 9.400 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.780 % in 1991 and a record low of 3.680 % in 2001. Ireland IE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Among European Union countries in December 2024, Spain had the highest unemployment rate at 10.6 percent, followed by Greece at 9.4 percent. By contrast, Czechia has the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, at 2.6 percent. The overall rate of unemployment in the European Union was 5.9 percent in the same month - a historical low-point for unemployment in the EU, which had been at over 10 percent for much of the 2010s.

Seasonally Adjusted Annual Average Standardised Unemployment Rates (SUR) (%) by Year

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This feature layer represents Sustainable Development Goal indicator 8.5.2 'Unemployment Rate' for Ireland. The layer was created using data produced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as part of the CSO's Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2018 Q4 and NUTS 3 (2016) boundary data produced by Tailte Éireann (more info). The LFS uses the International Labour Organisation definition for unemployment.

In 2015 UN countries adopted a set of 17 goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to help achieve the goals set out in the agenda by 2030. Governments are committed to establishing national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals and to review progress using accessible quality data. With these goals in mind the CSO and Tailte Éireann are working together to link geography and statistics to produce indicators that help communicate and monitor Ireland’s performance in relation to achieving the 17 sustainable development goals.The indicator displayed supports the efforts to achieve goal number 8 which aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Ireland was reported at 10.63 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was highest in Wales, where it was 5.4 percent, followed by England at 4.5 percent, Scotland at 3.8 percent, and 1.6 percent in Northern Ireland, the lowest rate among the four countries of the UK. For all four countries, the peak in unemployment during this period was in the early 2010s. England and Scotland's unemployment rates were highest in Q4 2011 at 8.4 percent and 8.6 percent respectively, with unemployment reaching 9.7 percent in Wales during Q3 2011. Northern Ireland reported its highest unemployment rate in Q1 of 2013 when it reached eight percent. Unemployment ticking up as UK enters 2025 For the United Kingdom as a whole, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in November 2024, the joint-highest rate recorded since August 2021. After reaching 8.5 percent in late 2011, unemployment in the UK fell quite consistently for several years, with this recovery interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw unemployment rise to 5.3 percent in late 2020 and early 2021. From this point onwards, however, the labor market bounced back, and was particular strong in 2022 when there were a record number of job vacancies and unemployment fell to as low as 3.6 percent. While the labor market cooled throughout 2023 and 2024, unemployment remained at historically low levels. Overall economy grows but GDP per head falls Throughout the whole of 2024, gross domestic product in the UK grew by 0.9 percent, but in the third quarter of the year, there was no economic growth, followed by the relatively weak growth rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, GDP per head in the UK, declined for a second-consecutive year, and was just 36,977 pounds in 2024, compared with 37,371 pounds in 2022. Inflation, meanwhile, has fallen from the peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022, but was still at the relatively high rate of four percent at the start of 2024, with this falling to 2.5 percent by the end of the year.