Rise in CSO jobless figures may add to 'economic jitters', economist warns
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office on Wednesday showing unemployment edged higher last month may add to "economic jitters", a leading economist said.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office on Wednesday showing unemployment edged higher last month may add to "economic jitters", a leading economist said.
There were 114,800 out of work in March 2025, compared with 112,900 in February 2025. In March 2025, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4%, which was up from a rate of 3.9% in February 2025. On an annual basis, the unemployment rate of 4% was down from a rate of 4.3% in March 2024.
"The prospect of tariffs has damaged business and consumer confidence. The latest unemployment numbers may add to the economic jitters, with almost 2,000 more people unemployed this month compared to last," said Grant Thornton Ireland chief economist Andrew Webb.
"While today’s unemployment numbers are disappointing, there is some comfort that we enter this new phase of economic uncertainty from a position of strength, with the unemployment rate low by historical standards."
There was a fall of 5,600 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in March 2025 when compared with March 2024.
Economist with hiring platform indeed, Jack Kennedy, noted the youth unemployment rate remained "stubbornly high" at 11.6%, unchanged from February.
The monthly unemployment rate for people aged 25-74 years was 2.9%, up from a rate of 2.8% in February 2025.
Overall, CSO statistician Conor Delves said the unemployment rate for males was unchanged at 3.9% and for females was 4.1%, up 0.1%.
