The country’s unemployment rate ticked up to 5.1% in July from 5% in June, new figures from the Central Statistics Office showed today.
Today’s CSO figures show that the monthly unemployment rate for men in July was 4.9%, up from a revised rate of 4.8% in June and down from 5% in July of last year.
The monthly jobless rate for women was 5.3%, an increase from a revised rate of 5.2% in June and up from 5% in July of last year.
Meanwhile, the monthly youth unemployment rate rose to 12.3%, up from a revised rate of 11.8% in June.
The CSO said the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed was 149,900 in July, compared with 147,100 the previous month.
There was a rise of 2,600 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in July 2026 when compared with July 2025, it added.
Jack Kennedy, senior economist at hiring platform Indeed, noted that newly revised CSO figures show the monthly unemployment rate actually exceeded 5% in February of this year when it was 5.1%.
The revised February figure marks the first time the rate was above 5% since December 2021.
The revised figures also include a rate of 5.1% for March of this year and bring the average monthly unemployment rate for the first seven months of 2026 to 5%.
“The newly revised figures will prompt increased concerns in relation to the trajectory of the country’s unemployment rate, which has edged upwards from an average of 4.7% in 2025,” Jack Kennedy said.
He said that while the direction of travel is potentially worrying if sustained, it should, however, be remembered that the recent increases have been both limited and gradual.
“They also come at a time of ongoing global volatility and rising costs, which has prompted many businesses to delay or reverse growth plans,” he said.
“It is also worth remembering that the rate was predicted to increase to 5% as this year developed and remain at or around this level throughout 2026,” he added.
Meanwhile Kate English, chief economist at Deloitte Ireland, said that the recent uptick in unemployment reflects a recalibration of Ireland’s labour market, rather than a cause for concern.
“Even though Ireland’s unemployment rate has risen slightly so far this year, the context is important. Ireland has been operating in an exceptionally tight labour market since 2022, with effectively full employment,” the economist said.
“Today’s data shows we’re still close to full employment and is reflective of positive labour market dynamics. Ireland’s labour market is still performing above historical and international levels,” she said.
“Youth unemployment (15-25 years old) has risen again this month, up to 12.3% from a revised rate of 11.8% in June. However, yet again context is important here as youth unemployment has averaged at 12.6% over the past decade,” she added.
The economist said that monthly unemployment data provides useful timely insights, and a signal of the direction.
“However, quarterly data provides more detailed indicators and concrete insights, which we will be watching closely later this month,” she added.
