Decrease in number of live register claimants

A decrease of 13,012 in the live register in the six months to October 2004 was comprised of a decrease of 10,450 (-8.7%) in short-term claimants and a decrease of 2,562 (-5.4%) for persons signing on for one year or more, says the Central Statistics Office.

In October 2004, 29.0% of all claimants were long-term, which compares to 28.3% in April 2004 and 28.4% in October 2003.

Of all claimants on the live register, 33.9% of males and 22.1% of females were long-term claimants.

In the year to October 2004, the number of short-term claimants decreased by 8,436 while long-term claimants decreased by 2,095

In the six months to October 2004, the number of males signing on decreased in all age groups.

Overall, the number of males decreased by 8,179 (-8.3%).

Males aged under 20 years (-10.7%) showed the largest percentage decrease, while those aged 60-64 (-4.4%) showed the lowest decrease.

Overall, the number of females decreased by 4,833 (-7.0%).

Females aged 35-44 (-9.4%) showed the largest decrease, while there was an increase of 21 (+0.8%) for females aged 60-64.

For all persons making claims for a year or more, the largest percentages are among the 35-44 (25.6%) and 45-54 (25.2%) age groups.

Those aged under 20 years (1.9%) and those aged 60-64 (5.0%) show the lowest percentages.

Of all persons making claims for under 1 year, the largest percentages are among the 25-34 (27.7%) and 35-44 (21.9%) age groups.

Those aged 60-64 (4.9%) and those aged under 20 years (5.5%) had the lowest percentages.

40.1% (61,724) of all claimants on the live register were registered for less than three months and 11.9% (18,344) of all claimants were registered for three years or more.

The Central Statistics Office stresses that live register is not designed to measure unemployment.

It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), and seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or Benefit.

Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest figure for June to August 2004 is 93,900 persons unemployed.