Youth unemployment rises for eighth consecutive month to 14%

The youth unemployment rate has increased every month since May 2025, and on an annual basis, has risen from just 11.8%

The monthly figures for 2025 shows the ongoing softening of the labour market has resulted in a gradual increase in the monthly unemployment level from 4.5% in the early part of the year to rates exceeding 5% from September onwards. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Unemployment in December remained steady despite another rise in the number of young people out of work.

New figures released on Wednesday by the Central Statistics Office found that seasonally adjusted unemployment was unchanged in December at 5%, but was up compared to the 4.5% rate recorded in the same month in 2024.