The number of people on the live register fell by 0.7 per cent to 176,800 in May, the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows.
The unadjusted live register total for May was 171,903. When seasonal effects are considered, the figure is 176,800, which is a decrease of 1,300 people from April.
Of the 264,242 people estimated to have been directly supported by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in April, 46.2 per cent were male, while 27.3 per cent were aged under 25.
The total number of people that were on the live register or who benefited from the Covid-19 income supports to April has also been made available.
In the month, 433,967 people were on the live register or were benefiting from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme or the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. Of those, 49.9 per cent were men, while 20.4 per cent were aged under 25.
The number of people supported by all schemes was down from the 845,268 recorded in April 2021.
April 2022 is the low point of the series, while March 2022 (445,160) was the next lowest point of the series. The high point of the series was reached in April 2020 (1,179,449).
It should be noted the live register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
