Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland

Ireland: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 37.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
37.1%
Change on year
down 19.0%
World rank
35th
of 44 countries
All-time high
56.8%
in 2008
All-time low
1.3%
in 2006
Years of data
22
1999–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland, 1999–2020

02040601999200920201999: 46.1 Percentage2000: 46.5 Percentage2001: 49.7 Percentage2002: 51.8 Percentage2003: 56 Percentage2004: 51.9 Percentage2005: 53.6 Percentage2006: 1.3 Percentage2007: 53.8 Percentage2008: 56.8 Percentage2009: 55.4 Percentage2010: 51.4 Percentage2011: 52.1 Percentage2012: 43.2 Percentage2013: 41.4 Percentage2014: 43.3 Percentage2015: 42.1 Percentage2016: 42.2 Percentage2017: 50.1 Percentage2018: 43 Percentage2019: 45.8 Percentage2020: 37.1 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Ireland recorded 37.1% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.0% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland peaked at 56.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2006.

That places Ireland 35th out of 44 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in Ireland, 1999 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1999 46.1%
2000 46.5% +0.9%
2001 49.7% +6.9%
2002 51.8% +4.2%
2003 56.0% +8.1%
2004 51.9% -7.3%
2005 53.6% +3.3%
2006 1.3% -97.6%
2007 53.8% +4038.5%
2008 56.8% +5.6%
2009 55.4% -2.5%
2010 51.4% -7.2%
2011 52.1% +1.4%
2012 43.2% -17.1%
2013 41.4% -4.2%
2014 43.3% +4.6%
2015 42.1% -2.8%
2016 42.2% +0.2%
2017 50.1% +18.7%
2018 43.0% -14.2%
2019 45.8% +6.5%
2020 37.1% -19.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 46.1% 46.1% 46.1% 1
2000s 47.7% 1.3% 56.8% 10
2010s 45.5% 41.4% 52.1% 10
2020s 37.1% 37.1% 37.1% 1

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 32 Finland 43.3% compare
  2. 33 Cyprus 42.1% compare
  3. 34 Malta 37.6% compare
  4. 36 Türkiye 34.1% compare
  5. 37 Netherlands 31.5% compare
  6. 37 Netherlands 31.5% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland was 37.1% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 56.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2006.
How does Ireland rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Ireland ranks 35th out of 44 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed