by HRHQ Editorial Team
Ireland’s labour market continued its upward trajectory in the second quarter of 2025, with the number of people in employment rising by 2.3% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The total number of employed individuals reached 2,818,100, marking an increase of 63,900 people year-on-year. The employment rate for those aged 15 to 64 climbed to 74.7%, up from 74.4% in Q2 2024. The highest employment rate was recorded among the 35–44 age group at 85.6%, while the lowest was among 15–19-year-olds at just 25.9%.
Sectoral shifts were notable, with the construction industry leading growth—adding 29,600 jobs, a surge of 18.4%. In contrast, the Information & Communication sector saw a decline of 7,700 jobs, down 4.1%.
Unemployment stood at 140,800, yielding a rate of 4.8%. Long-term unemployment also ticked upward, with 31,800 people out of work for over a year, representing 1.1% of the labour force.
Labour force participation rose to 66.4%, and the total labour force reached 2,958,900, up 2.5% from the previous year. Weekly hours worked across the economy increased by 1.6 million to 88.9 million, with construction again leading the charge.
These figures reflect a resilient and evolving labour market, with strong gains in traditional sectors and challenges in tech-related fields. Policymakers may look to these trends as indicators for future workforce planning and economic strategy.
