- Decreasing long term unemployment over the year
- Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit now accounts for 11.7% of the Live Register
- Participation in employment programmes is stable, while a drop of almost 25% is seen in participation in education and training programmes
On the 11th August, 2025, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the Live Register figures for July 2025. There were 169,600 people on the Live Register (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 1,100 people from the same month last year. Looking at the Register from a gender and age perspective: women account for 45.0% of the Live Register and young people, aged under 25 years, account for 13.4%.
Over the year, the number of people on the Live Register for less than one year has increased by 5.9% to 129,347 people and account for 69.7% of those on the Live Register. Women account for 50.8% and young people for 14.3% of this part of the register.
Long Term Unemployment continues to decrease
56,280 people were on the Live Register for more than a year, a decrease of 11.9% on July 2024. Looking at this part of the Register from a gender and age perspective: women account for 41.5% and young people 7.5%. Exploring the issue of duration further, 47.0% of the people on the Live Register for more than a year have been on it for at least three years.
Introduction of Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit
The new social welfare payment, called Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit (JPRB), was opened early this year. In the July Live Register, 21,683 people were on this benefit, accounting for 11.7% of the live register.
Activation Programmes - June
In June 2025 there were 31,516 participants in activation programmes, a decrease of 2.8% since June 2024.
A Major Decrease seen in Education and Training Participation
The number of people participating in education and training programmes was 4,821, a decrease of 23.6% compared to June 2024. The number of people participating in SOLAS Full-time Training for Unemployed People has seen a decrease of 21.5% to 4,038 people. The number of people on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) decreased by 44.0% to 539 participants; and the number of people receiving the Back to Education Allowance increased by 17.9% to 244 in June 2025.
Employment Programmes
The number of people participating in employment programmes increased by 2.3% to 26,695.
Community Employment remains the largest programme with 19,618 participants in June 2025 – 410 more participants than a year ago. The next biggest employment programme is TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative, with 4,540 participants, an increase of 76 people to June 2024. The third largest employment programme is the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme with 1,870 participants, a drop of 2.4% over the year.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) has 272 participants, an increase of 105 from June 2024. The Part-time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJIS) has increased to 95 participants and the Short-term Enterprise Allowance has also increased its numbers, with 300 people participating in June 2025.