The Live Register statement for February shows that 162,337 people were signing on the dole - an increase on last month of 2,377.
This compares with last year’s figure of 139,515 in February 2001, an increase of 22,822.
After adjusting for seasonal factors, the Live Register showed an increase of 4,500 in the month. The seasonally adjusted total increased from 156,300 in January to 160,800 in February.
During February the increase of 2,377 reflected an increase of 1,592 males and 785 females.
The standardised unemployment rate in February was 4.2 per cent. This compares with 3.7 per cent in April 2001, based on the Quarterly National Household Survey.
The Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney TD, said the increase in unemployment was not unexpected. She said 42,000 jobs were created last year and "while this is a drop on the increases in the boom years in 1999 and 2000, it is still a good performance in difficult economic circumstances".
Ms Harney said the unemployment rate remains low at 4 per cent and is still among the lowest in the EU with long-term unemployment at 1.2 per cent.
But Labour Party spokesperson on Social and Community Affairs Mr Tommy Broughan TD said the Government is "continuing to ignore escalating unemployment."
He said: "The huge scale of the increases over the past four months are a damning indictment of the Government’s shoddy approach".
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 unemployment assistance or benefit.
Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest figure, for September-November 2001 is 72,600 persons unemployed.