Ireland Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.8 Percent in October

Ireland's unemployment rate rose to 4.8 percent in October 2026, according to data from the Central Statistics Office. This represents a slight increase from a revised 4.7 percent in September. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed persons reached 143,600, which is 5,900 more than the figure recorded in October 2025.

Gender-specific trends diverged during the period. The unemployment rate for men decreased to 4.7 percent from a revised 4.8 percent in September, while the rate for women rose to 4.8 percent from 4.7 percent. Youth unemployment also saw a slight increase, reaching 11.5 percent.

Kate English, Chief Economist at Deloitte Ireland, stated that a 5 percent rate signals resilience and near full employment. However, she noted that the slowdown in the volume of new jobs being added to the economy is clear and highlighted that skills shortages persist in specific sectors, such as construction.