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Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Unemployment rate falls again to 11.7 per cent

It represents the 22nd month in a row that the number of claimants on the Live Register has fallen.

THE NUMBER OF people on the Live Register has fallen for the 22nd month in a row.

The unemployment fell 0.1 per cent to 11.7 per cent in April, with 2,673 fewer people on the Live Register.

There were just over 29,000 less people signing on this month compared to the same period in 2013.

While the number of long-term male claimants fell by 7.1 per cent, the number of female claimants rose by 2.5 per cent – the only increase recorded.

However, this represents an overall annual decrease of 4.2 per cent.

The number of casual and part-time workers on the Live Register – making up over 20 per cent of the overall figure – also fell.

Compared to April 2013, claimaints receiving the means-tested Jobseekers Allowance payments now makes up over three-quarters of those on the Liver Register, a rise of more than 3 per cent compared to April 2013.

The number of people on Jobseekers Benefit, which can be claimed when a sufficient number of PRSI stamps have been accumulated, fell by almost a quarter.

Back to Work payments and Activation Programmes, such as JoBBridge, both saw a small rise in the number of claimants between March and February this year.

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Reacting to today’s figures, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association warned that the Live Register will not continue to fall if pay rises are introduced.

“While unemployment might be decreasing there is currently no justification for wage increases in the vast majority of SMEs,” CEO Mark Fielding said.

He attacked ICTU and Ibec, saying their ‘partnership mentality’ must be “stopped in its tracks before we re-visit the madness of the ‘bubble’ when our competitiveness dropped by 39% due, in the main, to over-generous wage increases”.

March: Live Register drops for 21st month in a row >

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:24 AM

    They should change the name of the Swift ferry to the Olympic Flame – It never goes out.

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    Mute William Willis
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:25 AM

    The large fault in the Carrigaline area would be my cousin Barry. But don’t worry, he’ll blame someone else again.

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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:01 AM

    “God its lovely out”

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    Mute Moonshine
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:14 AM

    It’s.

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    Mute Carl Malone
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:18 AM

    It’s better in.

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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:23 AM

    No, Tis

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    Mute Phillip Brady Brady
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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:50 AM

    R u fo wheel

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    Jan 12th 2015, 8:45 AM

    Nice blue sky here not a cloud in the sky!

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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:18 AM

    That’s your blue ceiling fella

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    Mute Tom Kiely
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:50 AM

    Pity the ferry wouldn’t sink. …

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    Mute James Curtin
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    Jan 12th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Well if it did, it would be a pity that you weren’t on it, so we wouldn’t have to look at that god awful tattoo anymore!

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    Mute James Curtin
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    Jan 12th 2015, 1:48 PM

    Well if it did, it would be a pity that you weren’t on it, so we wouldn’t have to look at that god awful tattoo anymore!

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