The number of unemployment claims increased in July to 147,101, but the seasonally adjusted figure shows a fall of 800, according to figure released today by the Central Statistics Office.
The July figure gives a standardised unemployment rate for July of 3.6 per cent. This compares with 4.3 per cent in April 2000, based on the Quarterly National Household Survey.
Since July last year the seasonally adjusted number of persons on the Live Register has fallen by 12,900 to 139,800.
The Live Register includes part-time workers - those who work up to three days a week- andseasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit.
Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest figure, for December to February 2001 is 65,600 persons unemployed.
Commenting on today’s Live Register figures, Mr Tom Monks general secretary of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU), said that while a rise in the jobless total is to be expected at this time of year, the rise of 6,000 is more than double the normal increase in the June/July period.
"The threat of unemployment is becoming very real for thousands of voters," he said referring to recent job losses in the IT and traditional industries.
He added "Government spending priority in the Budget must be truly geared towards the unemployed and low paid workers. Vulnerable workers and those who are currently living in poverty should not be penalised by another give away budget"