Latest CSO figures estimate 138,400 unemployed last month

There was an increase of 8,600 in the number of people out of work in January 2026 compared with a year previous, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate figures from the CSO show.

There was an increase of 8,600 in the number of people out of work in January 2026 compared with a year previous, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate figures from the CSO show.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7%, unchanged from the revised December 2025 rate. On an annual basis, the unemployment rate increased from 4.5% in January 2025 to 4.7% in January 2026.

"The seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed was 138,400 in January 2026, compared with 137,800 in December 2025. There was an increase of 8,600 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in January 2026 when compared with January 2025," said CSO statistician Conor Delves.

The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed males increased to 76,000 in January 2026, compared with 75,200 in December 2025. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed females in January 2026 was 62,400, down from 62,700 in December 2025.

The youth unemployment rate (people aged 15-24 years) was 11.8%, up from a revised rate of 11.4% in December 2025.

Deloitte Ireland chief economist Kate English said the latest monthly unemployment rates overall indicate stability in Ireland’s jobs market, "a welcomed plateau following a volatile start to 2026".

“Youth unemployment trends are also more positive than expected but it is still one to watch closely. While it remains elevated compared to levels in 2022 through to early 2024, it has shown only a marginal rise from the same month last year. It is also down versus the pre-covid rate as of January 2019," Ms English said.

“With Q4 labour force data due in the coming weeks, what will be crucial to watch for is employment growth figures. Employment growth slowed considerably in Q3 2025, with a further softening expected this year. The extent of this moderation will dictate the pace of overall economic growth in 2026.

“Quarterly data will help illustrate the current trends in the labour market. However, it is important to note that demographic trends, such as an aging population, alongside AI changes may potentially impact labour market dynamics in the future. “With heightened geopolitical uncertainty and changing trade landscapes, we cannot take our economic performance for granted. Improvements in productivity, competitiveness and market diversification are still key to future growth.”

Jack Kennedy, senior economist with recruitment firm Indeed, noted the revised unemployment rate figures dropped to 4.9% in August and has remained below 5% since then. "It means the rate remained below 5% for all but one month of 2025. The revised rates for October, November, and December of last year are 4.7%, 4.6% and 4.7% respectively. The revised figures will be welcomed given the previous unrevised figures showed the rate at 5% or above for six months in a row."

Mr Kennedy said there are some concerns about the availability of entry-level opportunities in the job market for young people, and the youth unemployment rate will be watched closely throughout this year as a result.