Omicron restrictions see unemployment rate rise to 7.5%

A total of 193,332 people were out of work in December

The unemployment rate increased in December following the reintroduction of restrictions in the hospitality sector.

Ireland's unemployment rate increased last month following the reintroduction of restrictions in the hospitality sector in the wake of the spread of the Omicron variant.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the number of people not working in December was 7.5% for all persons, up from 6.9% in November but down from 21.7% in December 2020.