LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland
Ireland: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 8.8 in 2024. ▲ Rising
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland, 2004–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 8.8 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.7% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland peaked at 17.26 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5.55, in 2005.
That places Ireland 43rd out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5.67 | — |
| 2005 | 5.55 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 5.59 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 5.64 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 7.5 | +32.9% |
| 2009 | 13.93 | +85.7% |
| 2010 | 16.14 | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 17.11 | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 17.26 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 15.41 | -10.7% |
| 2014 | 13.25 | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 11.01 | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 9.45 | -14.2% |
| 2017 | 9.33 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 10.02 | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 8.92 | -11.0% |
| 2020 | 10.89 | +22.1% |
| 2021 | 10.99 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 7.08 | -35.6% |
| 2023 | 7.54 | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 8.8 | +16.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 8.8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.45, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 8.8 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.71, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.31 | 5.55 | 13.93 | 6 |
| 2010s | 12.79 | 8.92 | 17.26 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.06 | 7.08 | 10.99 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 40 Dominican Republic 9.08 compare
- 41 Lithuania 8.89 compare
- 42 Denmark 8.84 compare
- 44 Costa Rica 8.73 compare
- 45 Switzerland 8.71 compare
- 46 Austria 8.35 compare
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Ireland was 8.8 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.26 in 2012.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.55 in 2005.
- How does Ireland rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- Ireland ranks 43rd out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.