Unemployment in July on a seasonally adjusted basis was 6.4 per cent, up slightly on the previous month.
Compared to July 2016, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 1.6 per cent, with some 141,100 unemployed in the month.
Male unemployment increased by 0.1 per cent to 7.2 per cent, while female unemployment was unchanged at 5.4 per cent.
Unemployment amongst those aged between 15 and 24 was 12.3 per cent in July, up from 12 per cent the previous month but down from 17.6 per cent for the same month in 2016.
As would be expected, unemployment for those aged between 25 and 74 was 5.8 per cent in July, steady on the previous month and down from 7.1 per cent for the same month last year.
“Today’s results serve as reminder to Government that job-creation is not a given. The increase in youth unemployment and the monthly increase in the unemployment figures are concerning,” said Neil McDonnell, chief executive of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.
