One in eight people on dole as unemployment hits 12-year high

ONE in eight Irish people are on the dole as latest figures show unemployment at its highest level in 12 years.

According to the Live Register figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for August, the number of people seeking jobseekers allowance increased from 423,400 in July to 428,800 last month, an increase of 5,400.

Despite the jump, it is the slowest rate of increase in unemployment in over a year, signalling that the economy may be over the worst of the recession.