Numbers on Live Register and PUP rises in January

The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) rose by 3.3 per cent slightly last month, new figures show.

Data from the Central Statistics Office indicates that the number of people either on the Live Register or receiving PUP, increased to 237,141. Of these, 75,413 were on PUP, up from 66,901 versus December but down over 410,000 from the 485,964 who were receiving the payment in January 2021.

While the PUP was closed to new applicants in July 2020, the scheme was reopened for individuals, including the self-employed, who lost their employment between early December 2021 and January 22nd, 2022 following the introduction of new Covid-related restrictions.

Some 43,699 Pup recipients were male, equivalent to 57.9 per cent of the total. Approximately, 31,714 were female. Close to 16 per cent of PUP recipients were aged 25 years or under.

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Last month there were 162,578 people on the Live Register, of which 55 per cent or 89,536 were male, compared to 73,042 women.

Some 16,745 of those on the register were aged 25 or under. This is equivalent to 10.3 per cent of the total number on the Live Register.

In December, some 274,431 people were being supported by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), of which 70,330 were aged under 25 years.