Number of people employed up slightly amid 'softening' in labour market 

Total labour force increased by 31,300, or 1.1% year-on-year, to 2.99m

The age with the highest employment rate was the 45-54 group, at 85.8%. Picture: Ben Kilb/Bloomberg

The number of people employed in Ireland grew marginally during the second quarter of the year by 0.8% to just under 2.84m with data showing a “softening in the Irish labour market”.

According to data from the CSO, the number of people aged 15 to 89 years in employment rose by 21,200 between April and June, or 0.8%, compared to the same period last year.