Unemployment fell by 6.9 per cent or 22,200 in the 12 months to June, reducing the total number of persons out of work to 300,700.
On a quarterly basis, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined from 13.8 per cent to 13.7 per cent between April and June.
This latest Quarterly National Household Survey, published today by the Cental Statistics Office, shows the numbers in full-time employment increased by 21,600 or 1.5 per cent in the year to June, while part-time employment increasied by 2.8 per cent.
The increase was male-dominated, as male employment increased by 2.9 per cent, while female employment increased by 0.6 per cent.
Over the year, long-term unemployment rates have fallen from 9.2 per cent to 8.1 per cent. In Q2 of this year, long-term unemployed people accounted for 58.2 per cent of total unemployment, whereas during the same time frame in 2011, it accounted for 61.8 per cent.
The total labour force – which is the number of people available for work, irrespective of whether they have a job or not - now stands at 2,170,700 a figure which has increased by 11,500 over the year.
The figures show there were 1,869,900 people at work in the second quarter of 2013, which was an increase of 33,800 or 1.8 per cent on the same period last year.
While the number of employees in the public sector declined by 5,400 or 1.4 per cent in the year to the end of June, the number of employees in the private sector increased by 21,400 or 1.9 per cent. The number of self-employed people increased by 11,500 or 3.9 per cent over the year.
Employment fell in five of the fourteen economic sectors over the year, with the greatest rate of decline recorded in administrative and support services (down 7.9 per cent or 5,000). Employment in transportation and storage fell 5.4 per cent or 4,900, while public administration and defence saw a 4.5 per cent drop in employment.