THE NUMBERS signing on the Live Register increased by almost twice the national average in commuter belt areas outside cities such as Dublin and Cork, as well as in Border regions over the last year, official figures show.
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show Live Register figures jumping 36 per cent from 175,000 in July last year to almost 240,000 in July this year. A detailed analysis shows that numbers signing on at social welfare offices rose by up to 70 per cent in commuter belt areas outside the capital, such as Kildare, Meath and Carlow.
The impact of job losses resulted in significant increases in attendance at offices at Portlaoise (70 per cent), Portarlington, Co Laois (65 per cent) and Maynooth, Co Kildare (54 per cent).
Cork also experienced rapid increases in numbers joining the register in areas outside the city such as Macroom (66 per cent), Bandon (64 per cent) and Carrigaline (59 per cent).
In contrast, areas with traditionally high rates of unemployment, such as inner city areas of Dublin, have recorded much smaller increases of between 20 and 30 per cent.
Border regions such as Co Monaghan and Co Donegal also recorded significant increases, particularly areas such as Clones, Co Monaghan (73 per cent), Ballybofey (61 per cent) and Monaghan Town (60 per cent).
While Live Register figures are an important indicator of unemployment, statisticians say they are distorted by the inclusion of part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers who are also entitled to unemployment benefit.
Nevertheless, the data signals a continuation of the severe deterioration in labour market conditions seen since the start of the year.
More than seven out of 10 new benefit claimants so far this year are men. This increase in male unemployment principally reflects the steep downturn in house building and construction activity.
The number of women claiming unemployment benefit has risen by 15,400 since the start of the year, with most of the increase concentrated in the last three months.
This, analysts say, indicates that the slowdown is spreading from construction to services, where a large proportion of women work.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, numbers on the Live Register increased to 226,000 during July, the highest figure in a decade.
As a result, the unemployment rate - the numbers out of work as a percentage of the labour force - has risen to 5.9 per cent in July from 4.5 per cent a year earlier. The unemployment rate last touched 5.9 per cent in April 1999.
The sharp rise in Live Register figures this year blew a hole in Government projections that the Live Register would average about 170,000 this year.
This figure was revised upwards to 210,000 in recent months, but that figure may also underestimate the numbers signing on.
Numbers on the Live Register have averaged 203,600 in the first seven months of this year.