Unemployment claims rise slightly in July

The numbers claiming unemployment benefit rose in July, according to data released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO release shows that the number of persons signing on for unemployment assistance or benefit rose in July by 9,209 persons to reach a total of 168,509.

However when adjusted for seasonal factors the total register increased to 158,900, 2,600 higher than in in June, but 9,100 lower than the prevailing level in July 2004.

In addition to those unemployed, the register includes temporary claimants of unemployment benefits including part-time, seasonal and casual workers.

The official level of unemployment is calculated on a quarterly basis in the Quarterly National Household Survey.

Yesterday's release implies a slight increase in the level of unemployment. The standardised unemployment rate (SUR) rose to 4.3 per cent in July from 4.2 per cent in June. The SUR applies the most recent change in the live register to quarterly unemployment data to produce a monthly estimate of unemployment.

A regional breakdown of the data is available on a non-seasonally adjusted basis and shows that monthly increases were somewhat higher in the midlands and in the west.

The live register rose by 6.5 per cent in July in both regions, compared to an overall rise of 5.5 per cent.

On a county-by-county basis, the largest increases occurred in Offaly and Cavan, where the level of the register rose by 9.0 per cent and 7.6 per cent, respectively.