Fall in unemployment rate ‘proof economy is on track’

The Government has hailed figures showing yet another fall in unemployment, although the level of youth unemployment is still double the overall national figure.

Figures released by the CSO showed the seasonally adjusted number of people who were unemployed was 168,800 in October, down from 173,200 when compared to the figure for September and a decrease of 29,700 when compared to October last year.

It represents a reduction in the unemployment rate from 9.2% in October 2015 to 7.7% last month.