There was a marginal increase in the number of unemployment benefit claimants in December, but the unemployment rate stayed unchanged.
The seasonally adjusted Live Register increased by 500 in December to 159,100. In the year to December 2004 there was an unadjusted decrease of 11,788 (-6.9 per cent).
The monthly increase in the seasonally adjusted series was made up of an increase of 700 females and a decrease of 200 males.
The standardised unemployment rate in December was 4.2 per cent. This compares with 4.4 per cent in July 2004, based on the Quarterly National Household Survey.
The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit.
Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for June to August 2004, is 86,600 persons unemployed.
The Government Chief Whip, Mr Tom Kitt, TD said the figures showed "further clear evidence of a strong economic position throughout 2004 that featured quite a remarkable labour market performance."
