Central Statistics Office figures show unemployment rate continues to fall with an increase in average weekly earnings in certain sectors

Central Statistics Office latest figures show the number of people who are unemployed has decreased by 28,000 since last year.The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 141,600 in February, down from 143,900 the previous month.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2018 was 6.0%, down from the rate of 6.1% in January 2018 and down from 7.3% in February 2017.

This is the lowest jobless rate recorded in Ireland since May 2008, when the figure was 5.9 per cent. Unemployment has fallen from the peak of 15.9 per cent in December 2011 during the financial crisis.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 13.2% in February 2018, a decrease from 13.5% in January 2018.

Other figures show average weekly earnings were €734.60 in Q4 2017, which represents average earnings in the Irish economy, however there are variations in earnings across the sectors. The highest average weekly earnings of €1,100.79 were in the Information and Communication sector, followed by the Financial, insurance and real estate sector at €1,023.78. The lowest average weekly earnings were €350.04 in the Accommodation and food services sector and €472.83 in the Arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities sector

Unadjusted average weekly earnings increased in 10 of the 13 sectors in year to Q4 2017