The unemployment rate recorded by the Live Register fell to 3.6 per cent in February, the lowest figure since December 1981.
The Live Register figures released by the Central Statistics Office today show the number of claimants for unemployment benefit fell by 2,556 to 139,515. When seasonal factors are taken into account the register fell by 300 to 137,500.
A breakdown of the figures shows that the number of claims for full unemployment benefit increased slightly over the month but the number who are in part-time work but receiving unemployment assistance fell by 2,233 persons.
The Qaurterly National Household Survey, which is considered a more accurate gauge of unemployment showed a figure of 3.8 per cent in December.
