Unemployment rises above 13%

The rate of unemployment increased to 13.1% in the final three months of 2009, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office.

The figures show that the numbers in employment fell in most sectors and across all age groups.

At the end of last year 189,000 men and 78,000 women were unemployed.

The construction and industry sectors and those aged between 20 and 24 have been hit the hardest.