Live Register figures - Ominous trend needs reversal

The latest seasonally adjusted figure for the live register of unemployed, published by the Central Statistics Office, jumped by 15,800 in October.

The unemployment figure has therefore risen by 60%, with increases in nine of the 10 months so far in 2008.

The figures betray an ominous trend with frightening implications for many people. The total of 260,300 unemployed has exceeded a quarter of a million for the first time in 11 years.