Unemployment rate on course for 15% by year end

IRELAND’S unemployment rate continues to edge towards 15% with figures showing the highest number of people signing on the dole since the start of the year.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the unemployment rate rose from 14.7% to 14.8% last month. The number signing on increased from 440,800 to 443,400, the largest increase since August.

This compares with an unemployment rate of 13.2% in May 2010.