PUP and Live Register jump 27% due to Level five restrictions

An additional 480,000 people were in receipt of the PUP in January because of Covid-related restrictions on workplaces

Figures released today by the CSO show the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for January was 190,500, down 4,200 from December 2020. File photo: Larry Cummins,

The number of people on the Live Register or receiving the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) jumped by 27% to 657,076 last month.

Figures released today by the CSO show the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for January was 190,500, down 4,200 from December 2020.