Unemployment in the State edged up to 5.1 per cent in July amid signs the labour market may be slowing.
The Central Statistics Office’s (CSO) measure of joblessness rose from 5 per cent to 5.1 per cent between June and July.
The seasonally adjusted number of people classified as being unemployed was 149,900 in July, compared with 147,100 in June.
The latest snapshot comes amid warnings that the labour market in the Republic is cooling after several years of significant growth.
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The headline rate is still anchored at 5 per cent, however, which is low historically.
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“The recent uptick in unemployment reflects a recalibration of Ireland’s labour market, rather than a cause for concern,” said Kate English, chief economist at Deloitte Ireland
“Even though Ireland’s unemployment rate has risen slightly so far this year, the context is important. Ireland has been operating in an exceptionally tight labour market since 2022, with effectively full employment.
“Today’s data shows we’re still close to full employment and is reflective of positive labour market dynamics. Ireland’s labour market is still performing above historical and international levels.”
The CSO said there was a rise of 2,600 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in July when compared with July 2025.
The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed males was 75,600 in July, while the number of unemployed women was 74,300.
The youth unemployment rate was 12.3 per cent, up from a revised rate of 11.8 per cent the previous month.
Commenting on the figures, Jack Kennedy, senior economist at hiring platform Indeed, said: “The newly revised figures will prompt increased concerns in relation to the trajectory of the country’s unemployment rate, which has edged upwards from an average of 4.7 per cent in 2025.
“While the direction of travel is potentially worrying if sustained, it should, however, be remembered that the recent increases have been both limited and gradual. They also come at a time of ongoing global volatility and rising costs, which has prompted many businesses to delay or reverse growth plans.”
