Minister Doherty Welcomes Lowest Unemployment Rate since February 2005

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D. has welcomed the latest statistics published by the CSO today which show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2019 was 4.4%

The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 108,200 in May 2019, a decrease of 33,200 when compared to May 2018.  

“I particularly welcome the latest statistics published by the CSO today which show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.4%, down from 5.9% at the same time last year and the lowest recorded unemployment rate since February 2005".

Minister Doherty also welcomed the fall in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for young people aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) which was 10.0% in May 2019, a decrease from 14.7% in May 2018. Overall, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for males of 4.7% shows a drop from 6.1% in May 2018, while the rate for females was 4.2% was down from 5.8% in May 2018.”
The Minister added:

“Today’s figures are testament to the range of measures we have put in place to counter unemployment and get people trained and back into the workforce.  The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection continues to provide supports to unemployed people who are returning to work, to employers who give work to jobseekers and to those who become self-employed.  Work opportunities continue to be available across a range of sectors and we will continue to ensure that people are given the support they need to take up these opportunities.  We cannot become complacent however, and my focus now is to make every effort to reduce youth unemployment further and to tackle the circumstances holding some of the long term unemployed back.”

Image: The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D.

ABC Comment, have your say below: