The unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in four years, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The standardised rate, as measured by the Live Register, was 4.8 per cent in October - the highest rate since July 2003.
This compares with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent from the CSO's Quarterly National Household Survey, a more accurate measure of unemployment.
The seasonally adjusted Live Register total increased from 164,200 in September to 164,700 in October. There was an increase of 2,200 from August to September.
The CSO said there was an unadjusted monthly decrease of 3,203 on the Live Register in October, which reflected decreases in all regions.
The largest percentage decrease was in the Dublin region which fell 3.5 per cent, while the smallest percentage decrease was in the Midland region, which decreased 0.1 per cent.
The Live Register is not designed as an accurate measure of unemployment as it includes those who work up to three days a week, seasonal and casual workers entitled to jobseekers benefit or allowance.
Labour enterprise and employment spokesman Willie Penrose said the figures represented a year-on-year increase of 9,000. The upward trend was worrying for employment and the economy as a whole, he said.
"Given our huge dependence on the construction industry for employment expansion over recent years, the labour market is particularly vulnerable to the slowdown in house building that we are witnessing," Mr Penrose added.
Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Leo Varadkar echoed the concern and saying construction and public services accounted for 61 per cent of jobs created since 2000.
"This is not a sustainable jobs strategy for a small trading economy like Ireland," Mr Varadkar said.
He called for a comprehensive strategy to restore competitiveness in both the public and private sector and assistance for small business.