THE UNEMPLOYMENT rate grew slightly in October, with the number of people signing on the seasonally adjusted Live Register increasing by 2,700.

The increase pushed the standardised unemployment rate up by 0.1 per cent to 14.4 per cent, the same rate recorded in October of last year.

Figures released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office show a rise in the Live Register of jobseekers benefit and allowance claimants to 447,100 in October.

In unadjusted terms, there were 430,432 people signing on the Live Register, a monthly fall of more than 7,000, which can in part be attributed to the reopening of third-level colleges after the summer break.

The CSO said that over the last 12 months, the seasonally adjusted register has remained in the range of 441,300 to 448,700, indicating that while fluctuations are occurring between months, the underlying trend has been relatively flat.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed said the figures had “flat-lined” and stressed that the Government response had to date been ineffective in addressing the “unemployment crisis”.

“Ireland badly needs a co-ordinated and well-thought-through jobs strategy, one that identifies potential job growth across a wide range of sectors,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Such a strategy should not only look to the private sector as a potential employer but should also look to the State itself and the community and voluntary sector.”

Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Bloxham Stockbrokers, described the figures as disappointing.

“The Government is well-aware that there is no easy fix to the unemployment problem and things are unlikely to improve on the jobs front until the economy starts to grow again on a sustained basis,” he said.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, there were monthly increases of 1,200 males and 1,500 females on the Live Register in October.

The number of female claimants has increased by 4,883 (3.3 per cent) to 152,837 so far this year, with the number of male claimants falling by 4,004 (1.4 per cent) to 277,595.

This compares to increases of 9,142 (6.6 per cent) and 8,004 (2.9 per cent) for women and men respectively in the same period of last year.

The number of people aged 25 and over on the Live Register has increased by 6,092 (1.8 per cent) so far this year, while the number of people aged under 25 fell by 5,213 (6.3 per cent), perhaps reflecting continued emigration among graduates.

Some 58.2 per cent (250,659) of all claimants on the Live Register were short-term in October, down from 65.6 per cent or 281,945 at the same point last year.

The number of long-term claimants was 179,773, an annual rise of 32,165 (21.8 per cent).

In a statement, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, called on the Government to use the upcoming budget and the four-year plan to address the “desperate” unemployment situation.

Chambers Ireland said fast-tracking labour market reforms outlined by Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton during the summer was essential to create favourable conditions for job-creation in impacted sectors.