- Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit now accounts for 16.5% of the Live Register
- Participation in employment programmes is stable, while a drop of 25% is seen in participation in education and training programmes
On the 3rd October, 2025, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the Live Register figures for September 2025. There were 169,300 people on the Live Register (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 2,500 people from the same month last year. Looking at the Register from a gender and age perspective: women account for 44.8% of the Live Register and young people, aged under 25 years, account for 12.6%.
Over the year, the number of people on the Live Register for less than one year has increased by 5.5% to 110,672 people and account for 67.0% of those on the Live Register. Women account for 45.8% and young people for 15.0% of this part of the register.
54,571 people were on the Live Register for more than a year, a decrease of 5.8% on September 2024. Looking at this part of the Register from a gender and age perspective, women account for 40.9% and young people 7.6%. Exploring the issue of duration further, 47.9% 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 September Live Register, 27,221 people were on this benefit, accounting for 16.5% of the live register.
Activation Programmes - August
In August 2025 there were 30,046 participants in activation programmes, a decrease of 1.7% since August 2024.
A Major Decrease seen in Education and Training Participation
The number of people participating in education and training programmes was 3,365, a decrease of 25.0% compared to August 2024. The number of people participating in SOLAS Full-time Training for Unemployed People has seen a decrease of 19.3% to 2,760 people. The number of people on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) decreased by 57.0% to 409 participants; and the number of people receiving the Back to Education Allowance increased by 66.1% to 196 in August 2025.
Employment Programmes
The number of people participating in employment programmes increased by 2.3% to 26,681.
Community Employment remains the largest programme with 19,557 participants in August 2025 – 332 more participants than a year ago. The next biggest employment programme is TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative, with 4,545 participants, an increase of 100 people from August 2024. The third largest employment programme is the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme with 1,891 participants, a drop of 2% over the year.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) has 289 participants, an increase of 127 from August 2024. The Part-time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJIS) has increased to 69 participants and the Short-term Enterprise Allowance has also increased its numbers, with 330 people participating in August 2025.