On the 2nd October, 2026, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the Live Register figures for September 2026. There are 172,200 people on the Live Register (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 1,950 people from the same month last year. Looking at the Register from a gender and age perspective: women account for 44.7% of the Live Register and young people, aged under 25 years, account for 13.1%.
Over the year, the number of people on the Live Register for less than one year has increased by 2.7% to 113,676 people and account for 68.0% of those on the Live Register. Women account for 45.8% and young people for 15.4% of this part of the register.
53,517 people are on the Live Register for more than a year, a decrease of 1.9% on September 2025. Looking at this part of the Register from a gender and age perspective, women account for 40.0% and young people 8.3%. 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 Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit (JPRB), was introduced in September 2025. In the September Live Register, 35,049 people are on this benefit, accounting for 21% of the Live Register.
Activation Programmes - August
In August 2026 there were 29,498 participants in activation programmes, a decrease of 1.8% since August 2025.
Education and Training Participation
The number of people participating in education and training programmes was 2,932, a decrease of 433 people from August 2025. The number of people participating in SOLAS Full-time Training for Unemployed People has seen a decrease of 12.5% to 2,415 people. The number of people on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) decreased by 176 people from the previous year to 233 participants; and the number of people receiving the Back to Education Allowance increased by 88, to 284 participants in August 2026.
Employment Programmes
The number of people participating in employment programmes remained stable over the year; there were 26,566 participants in total.
Community Employment remains the largest programme with 19,445 participants in August 2026 – 112 less participants than a year ago. The next biggest employment programme is TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative, with 4,455 participants, remaining stable over the year. The third largest employment programme is the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme with 1,851 participants, with a slight decrease of 40 participants over the year.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) has 329 participants, an increase of 40 from the previous year. The Part-time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJIS) has decreased to 62 participants, and the Short-term Enterprise Allowance has increased its numbers by 28.5%, with 424 people participating in August 2026.