Ireland's unemployment rate: how to read the CSO figures

Who counts in the rate

The unemployment rate is the unemployed share of the labour force. The labour force consists of employed people and people classified as unemployed under the survey definition. People outside the labour force form a separate group and are excluded from the rate.

Our chart uses CSO MUM01, covering people aged 15 to 74 and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. Keep that age range and adjustment in view when comparing another chart.

Why the series is seasonally adjusted

Hiring and job seeking have recurring seasonal patterns. Seasonal adjustment helps separate those patterns from changes between months. Compare adjusted figures with adjusted figures, using the same population and age range.

Percentage points: a worked example

A move from 5.0% to 5.1% is an increase of 0.1 percentage points. Relative to the starting rate, it is a 2% increase: 0.1 divided by 5.0. The two statements use different denominators.

Our chart expresses the change from a year earlier in percentage points. Look across several months as well as the latest observation; published estimates can be revised.

A national trend and a trade vacancy

The national rate combines occupations, industries and places. For a construction career decision, it gives background about the labour market overall. Occupational research shows skill needs, and employer or public job services show live vacancies.

For construction, the SOLAS National Skills Bulletin of October 2025 lists carpenters as a shortage occupation and plumbers and electricians as potential future shortages. Our trade and apprenticeship guides cover the entry routes, training and pay for those trades.

• SOLAS: National Skills Bulletin, October 2025 (PDF)

Reference month, source update and editorial date

The reference month is the period described by the observation. The dataset update date records the publisher's update. The guide's review date records editorial work. Rebuilding the website changes none of those dates.

On the labour-market page, choose both sexes, male or female, then a time period. The accompanying table shows the values used in the chart. Follow the dataset link to inspect the original CSO series.