Business

Number of people on live register rises by 3,200 in December

Those between 25 and 34 years of age make up the largest group on the index

The number of people on the live register increased by 3,200 people to 166,600 in December, an increase of 2 per cent, according to data from the Central Statistics Office. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
The number of people on the live register increased by 3,200 people to 166,600 in December, an increase of 2 per cent, according to data from the Central Statistics Office. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Fiona Keeley
Fri Jan 10 2025 - 12:22

The number of people on the Live Register increased by 3,200 to 166,600 in December, an increase of 2 per cent, according to data from the Central Statistics Office.

The unadjusted live register stood at 164,806 people at the end of the year.

“When seasonal effects are considered, the seasonally adjusted live register total for December 2024 was 166,600 or 3,200 more people than November 2024,” said Conor Delves CSO statistician in the labout market analysis section.

The register broadly tracks the labour market although it is not a measure of unemployment as people with part-time or casual work may still be entitled to benefits.

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When broken down by age groups, those between 25 and 34 made up the largest group on the register in December, standing at 38,289 or 23.2 per cent of the total figure.

Mr Delves said percentage increases in the number of people on the register were observed in two counties with Kildare and Dublin seeing increases of 3.8 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, counties that saw the largest percentage decreases over a year included Clare, dropping 17.7 per cent; Kerry, falling 15.6 per cent; and Donegal with a decrease of 14.9 per cent.

Overall, there were 108,451 people on the register for less than one year in December 2024. This represents a decrease of 2,257 people compared to the same time the previous year.

The data show that the number of means-tested jobseeker’s allowance claims fell by 8.7 per cent in December 2024, compared with the same time the previous year. Jobseeker’s allowance is paid to those who have not paid enough PRSI to qualify for jobseeker’s benefit.

The number of claims for jobseeker’s benefit rose by 10.3 per cent in December 2024 compared with December 2023.

The data follows monthly unemployment figures for December that showed a slight increase in the seasonally adjusted rate, reaching 4.2 per cent from 4.1 per cent in November.

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