Jobless total down by 22,000; emigration sees rise

The unemployment rate has fallen slightly to 13.7%, acoording to the most recent figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

The unemployment rate has fallen slightly to 13.7%, according to the most recent figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

The CSO says it represents the third successive quarter showing an annual rise in employment.

A report on the job market found the numbers out of work fell by 22,000 in the year to the end of June, with the jobless total now at 300,700.

There has also been an improvement in the number of people on the dole for a year or more, with the long-term unemployment rate down from 9.2% to 8.1% over the same period.

The CSO report warned that the long-term unemployed make up 58% of those out of work. That proportion has fallen by 3% since June 2012.

The Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said the increase in employment levels shows the Action Plan for Jobs is working.

Minister Bruton said the increase in those at work is across all occupations.

"We have a long way to go of course but what is encouraging about this is the increase in employment across all occupations," he said.

"It is six of the eleven private sectors; industry, agriculture, construction, hospitality these are all growing significantly

"This is encouraging and it is a basis on which to work off."

The report also noted that employment grew by 33,800 in the year to June, with more than 1.87 million people in work.

The CSO also said 89,000 people emigrated in the year to the end of April, a 2.2% rise on the same time last year.

The level of immigration into Ireland increased by 6% to 55,900.