Jobless rate may fall at slower pace due to people on activation and training schemes

A total of 82,309 people on activation or training programmes at the end of last year may mean that a rapid fall in the unemployment rate may not be on the cards.

The numbers on the activation schemes are equivalent to more than the population of Galway City and do not count towards the Live Register and unemployment figures.

That means there is a huge pool of jobless people who will be seeking work over the coming years who are not currently counted towards the jobless total.