Ireland unemployment rises slightly to 4.7% in March - CSO

Ireland’s unemployment rate edged higher in March, official data showed on Wednesday, with joblessness rising slightly both on a monthly and annual basis.

The Central Statistics Office said the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.7% in March from 4.6% in February. On a yearly basis, the rate also rose from 4.5% in March 2025.

The number of unemployed people climbed to 140,000 in March, up from 138,900 the previous month and 133,000 a year earlier.

Breaking down the figures, the unemployment rate for men stood at 4.7% in March, unchanged from February but up from 4.5% a year before. For women, the rate rose to 4.7% from a revised 4.5% in February and from 4.6% in March 2025.

Among younger workers, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 ticked up to 12.5% in March from 12.4% in February. The rate for those aged 25 to 74 held steady at 3.5%.

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