Irish unemployment continues sharp downward trend in October

Joblessness in Ireland fell again last month, continuing the steady yet sharp downward trend which has been in place over recent years.

The Emerald Isle's rate of unemployment dropped by one tenth of a percentage point in October to hit 6.0%, according to the Central Statistics Office.

That compared to a rate of 7.2% in October of 2016.

In absolute terms, there were 131,300 Irish without a job in October, down from 133,100 in the month before and 26,800 less than in the same month of 2016.

Unemployment for males stood at 6.7% in October, versus 5.1% for females, although over the past 12 months it was the former rate which had dropped most sharply, from 8.1% in October.

Youth unemployment on the other hand was at 14.0%, marking a sharp fall from the 14.7% of those aged between 15 to 24 who were without a job a month earlier.