Another 25,000 people came off PUP or live register in October

Almost 25,000 more people came off the live register or stopped receiving the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) in October as the labour market continued its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic shock.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show a total of 239,390 people were either on the live register or were benefiting from the PUP in October. This compared to 264,085 in the month of September.

At the end of October, 77,806 of those whose income from employment has been affected due to Covid-19 were being facilitated through the PUP, which is administered by the Department of Social Protection. This was down from 101,470 in September.

There are 267,899 fewer people in receipt of the PUP than at the end of October 2020.

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The PUP recipients at the end of October consisted of 43,424 men (55.8 per cent) and 34,382 women (44.2 per cent). Breaking this down by age, 6,862, or 8.8 per cent, were under 25 years of age, while the remainder were 25 and over.

The data also shows a total of 571,603 people were on the live register or were benefiting from the PUP or employment wage subsidy scheme (EWSS) in September, down from 737,319 a year earlier.

In September, 318,129 people were estimated to have been directly supported by the EWSS. There were more people aged 25 years and over (228,766) than under 25 years (86,895) being supported by the scheme in September.

Low point

The 571,603 supported by all schemes in September is the current low point of the series and was down from 737,319 a year earlier. The total for August (638,496) is the next lowest point. The current high point of the series was reached in April 2020 (1,179,261).

The unadjusted live register total for October was 165,671 people. This consisted of 90,512 men (54.6 per cent) and 75,159 women (45.4 per cent). In terms of age, 17,387, or 10.5 per cent, were under 25, while the remainder were 25 or older.

CSO senior statistician Edel Flannery said that when seasonal effects are considered, the seasonally adjusted live register total for October was 170,100, an increase of 2,800 from September.

“Outside of the traditional live register, in the last week of October, 77,806 people were in receipt of the PUP,” she said. “There were 267,899 fewer persons in receipt of the PUP at the end of October than at the end of October 2020.

“Users should consider the impact of government restrictions when comparing the numbers of people in receipt of the PUP at different points in time.”

Ms Flannery added: “In September, 571,603 persons were on the live register or were benefiting from the PUP, TWSS or the EWSS. The number supported by all schemes was down from 737,319 a year earlier.”