Employment at highest level in 5 years

The unemployment rate dropped to 11.3% at the end of August following seven quarters of consecutive employment growth. 

The total number of people at work is at its highest level since 2009, and the unemployment rate has dropped below the eurozone average for the first time since the economy collapsed, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

There was a total of 1,901,600 people employed at the end of June, which was an increase of 31,600 over the 12-month period. The number of people unemployed fell by 46,200 to 254,500 over the same timeframe.