CSO: One in 10 eligible workers now claiming social welfare

UNEMPLOYMENT is growing at pace never witnessed before, with one in 10 eligible workers now on social welfare, according to new statistics.

Yesterday the Central Statistics Office released its Live Register figures for the month of February, they showed 354,437 were drawing the dole. Of those, 21% were under the age of 25.

In 12 months the Live Register swelled by 87%, the largest annual increase in history.