News & Events

Minister Humphreys welcomes further fall in unemployment rate

Monthly unemployment rate now 5.9%

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD today (Tuesday) welcomed the Monthly Unemployment figures for April published by the Central Statistics Office, showing that the official unemployment rate has fallen from 6% in March to 5.9% in April and from 6.8 % in April 2017.

The statistics also show:

  • On a seasonally adjusted basis 3,200 fewer people were unemployed in April compared to March
  • 16,700 fewer people were unemployed in March compared with twelve months earlier
  • Unemployment among people aged between 15-24 has fallen by 0.5% in a month.

Commenting on today’s figures the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation said:

“I am delighted to see the unemployment rate falling again, this time down to 5.9%, which is a decrease from 6.8% this time last year. As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I will continue pursuing the Government policies that have proven successful in creating the right environment for continued job growth right across the country. My focus is on ensuring that these positive trends are felt in every region through a number of measures including the Regional Action Plan for Jobs.”

Ends

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call the Press Office at +353 1 631 2200 or email press.office@dbei.gov.ie