Rise in unemployment worrying, warns opposition

THE number of unemployed rose in July to around 170,000, a figure 8,000 down on the same month last year.

Nonetheless, opposition parties said that with rising unemployment there was no room for complacency.

The numbers signing on for unemployment assistance and benefit rose by just over 5% last month, according to Central Statistics Office figures. But the numbers on the Live Register usually increase in July as temporary workers in the education sector sign on for the Summer months.