The seasonally adjusted number of jobless claims increased modestly in March, the monthly Live Register statement showed today.
The figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that on an unadjusted basis, the number of claims for unemployment benefit fell by 3,630 to 135,885. This is the lowest figure since November 1981.
The number of claimants fell in all regions except the midlands which showed a slight increase.
The standardised unemployment rate for March was 3.6 per cent, the CSO said. This compares with 4.3 per cent last year based on the Quarterly National Household Survey.