On the 6th August, 2026, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Monthly Unemployment (MU) figures for July 2026. The Monthly Unemployment figures are estimated using trends in the Live Register figures based on data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are subject to revision. The Labour Force Survey is published on a quarterly basis by the CSO and provides the official employment and unemployment figures.
According to the latest Monthly Unemployment figures, 149,900 people are unemployed in July 2026, an increase of 1.8% on July 2025. The Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) is 5.1%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points (ppts).
The Monthly Unemployment Rate for men decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.9%, and for women it increased by 0.3 ppts to 5.3%. Of the 149,900 people who are unemployed, 50.0%, or 74,300 are women.
Young People
In July 2026, 44,400 people aged 15-24yrs are unemployed, 1,800 less young people than in July 2025, a 3.9% total decrease. This age group accounts for 29.6% of all unemployed people. Their MUR is 12.3%, a 0.3 percentage point decrease in one year.
Over the year, the unemployment rate amongst young men has increased by 0.2 percentage points; their MUR has increased to 12.8%. Unemployment rates amongst young women decreased by 0.8 percentage points; their unemployment rate is 11.8%. In July 2026, women account for 46.4% of those unemployed in this age category.
People Aged 25-74yrs
The Monthly Unemployment figure for people aged 25-74yrs is 105,500 in July 2026, an increase of 4.4% since July 2025. Their Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) is 4.1% in July 2026, an increase of 0.2 percentage points over the year.
In this age category the unemployment rate has decreased by 0.2 ppts to 3.8% for men over the year. Unemployment rates for women increased by 0.5 ppts to 4.4%. Women account for 51.0% of those unemployed in this age category.