Ireland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in October 2026, up from a downwardly revised 4.7% in September, remaining below 5% for the seventh consecutive month. The number of unemployed increased by 1,600 from the previous month and by 5,900 from a year earlier, reaching 143,600 — the highest level since May.
By gender, the female unemployment rate inched up to 4.8% from 4.7%, with the number of unemployed women rising to 68,100, the highest since June. In contrast, the male unemployment rate eased to 4.7% from 4.8%, as the number of unemployed men slipped to 75,500.
Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) increased to 11.5% from a revised 11.4% in September, while the unemployment rate for those aged 25–74 was unchanged at 3.8%. Overall, the national jobless rate was also higher than the 4.7% recorded in October 2025.
