Unemployment rate remained at 4.6% in February

CSO said 137,500 people were unemployed in February 2025

The rate of unemployment was unchanged in Ireland last month, at 4.6%, according to figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Wednesday.

The rate of unemployment was unchanged in Ireland last month, at 4.6%, according to figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Wednesday.

There were 137,500 people unemployed in February 2025, just 300 less than in January. On an annual basis, the unemployment rate increased from 4.4% in February 2025. "There was an increase of 8,300 (to 129,200) in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in February 2026 when compared with February 2025," CSO statistican Conor Delves said. 

"The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed males decreased to 74,900 in February 2026, compared with 75,200 in January 2026. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed females in February 2026 was 62,500, from 62,600 in January 2026.”

In terms of age, the monthly unemployment rate for people aged 15-24 years - the youth employment rate - was 12.4%, up from a revised rate of 11.9% in January 2026. The monthly unemployment rate for people aged 25-74 years was 3.5%, down from 3.6% in January 2026.

Jack Kennedy, senior economist with hiring platform Indeed, noted the unemployment rate has now also averaged below 5% for 16 consecutive quarters in a row. "This comes despite ongoing global uncertainty and a steady softening of the labour market over the last three years," said Mr Kennedy.