The Live Register, reflecting the number of people who have signed on as unemployed, fell in September for the fourth successive month when seasonal factors are taken into account, according to the latest figures yesterday.
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) the number of people on the register fell to 152,300 in September, sharply down from the 169,600 recorded in August. The fall was welcomed by Minister for Employment, Trade and Enterprise Micheál Martin yesterday.
When adjusted for seasonal factors the fall was more moderate but still significant, from 158,200 in August to 155,300 in September, a fall of 2,900 in the month. But due to increases in the adjusted register earlier this year, September's total was only 1,100 lower than September 2005.
The fall was made up of a 900 reduction in the number of men on the register and a 2,000 reduction in the number of women. The fall in September's register was exactly equal to the reduction in the number of persons over the age of 25. No reduction occurred in the numbers of unemployed under 25, which remained at 30,600 in adjusted terms.
"This shows that the Irish economy still continues to perform remarkably well and this reflects the effectiveness of Government policy. The focus now must be on maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness of the economy so we can continue to build on this success," Mr Martin said.
According to a survey on Wednesday, business confidence in the services sector, which accounts for two-thirds of economic activity in the State, rose to a six-year high in September. The survey, produced by NCB stockbrokers, suggests that firms in the sector were being forced to boost employment in order to meet growing demands for work and to clear existing backlogs.
While the Live Register does not measure the level of unemployment, the CSO has extrapolated from the latest International Labour Organisation figures that the unemployment rate remained at 4.4 per cent in September.