The seasonally adjusted Live Register fell in December, according to the latest data released today by the Central Statistics Office.
The Live Register, which measures the number of unemployment benefit claimants, increased by 7,506 persons in December to 166,142.
But when seasonal factors are taken into account, the total fell from 165,000 in November to 164,700 this month, a fall of 300.
The slight fall in December means that the standardised unemployment rate in December was 4.4 per cent. This compares with 4.2 per cent in April 2002, based on the Quarterly National Household Survey - which is the most reliable measure of unemployment.