Emigration central to unemployment figures, says economist

A leading economist has linked the falling number of dole claimants to the number of people emigrating — but forecast the unemployment rate could fall to 14% by the end of the year.

Alan McQuaid, chief economist with Bloxham, said it was good news that the numbers signing on the Live Register had dropped to 434,100 in March, 5,300 fewer than in the previous month. The figure marked a year-on-year drop of 7,100.

Mr McQuaid said the drop had contributed to a fall in the unemployment rate from 14.4% to 14.3%.