Number of dole claimants at lowest level for four years, CSO reveals

The number of dole claimants fell to its lowest level since Aug 2009 last month, but economists still believe it will be a “number of years” before the unemployment rate returns to single digits.

According to the CSO, on a seasonally adjusted basis the number of people on the Live Register fell to 426,100 in May — 700 fewer than in April. In unadjusted terms, the total was 421,737, a decrease of 11,170 or 2.6% compared to the same month last year.

Alan McQuaid, chief economist with Merrion Stockbrokers, pointed out that the drop in the number of dole claimants in May was the 11th monthly fall in a row.