Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland

Ireland: Unemployed persons by type of employment sought was 136.7 in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
136.7
Change on year
up 13.1%
World rank
23rd
of 34 countries
All-time high
343.6
in 2012
All-time low
65.8
in 2001
Years of data
38
1983–2020

Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland, 1983–2020

1002003001983200120201983: 193.31984: 215.61985: 233.21986: 236.31987: 238.71988: 230.21989: 2101990: 185.81991: 212.21992: 203.11993: 2131994: 205.41995: 171.61996: 173.11997: 155.81998: 124.61999: 97.92000: 75.42001: 65.82002: 77.62003: 84.12004: 86.32005: 88.62006: 94.42007: 116.42008: 159.82009: 290.82010: 327.42011: 342.52012: 343.62013: 308.52014: 267.52015: 226.22016: 194.92017: 157.92018: 137.52019: 120.92020: 136.7

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

In 2020, unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland stood at 136.7.

That represents a change of up 13.1% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland peaked at 343.6 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 65.8, in 2001.

That places Ireland 23rd out of 34 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland, 1983 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1983 193.3
1984 215.6 +11.5%
1985 233.2 +8.2%
1986 236.3 +1.3%
1987 238.7 +1.0%
1988 230.2 -3.6%
1989 210 -8.8%
1990 185.8 -11.5%
1991 212.2 +14.2%
1992 203.1 -4.3%
1993 213 +4.9%
1994 205.4 -3.6%
1995 171.6 -16.5%
1996 173.1 +0.9%
1997 155.8 -10.0%
1998 124.6 -20.0%
1999 97.9 -21.4%
2000 75.4 -23.0%
2001 65.8 -12.7%
2002 77.6 +17.9%
2003 84.1 +8.4%
2004 86.3 +2.6%
2005 88.6 +2.7%
2006 94.4 +6.5%
2007 116.4 +23.3%
2008 159.8 +37.3%
2009 290.8 +82.0%
2010 327.4 +12.6%
2011 342.5 +4.6%
2012 343.6 +0.3%
2013 308.5 -10.2%
2014 267.5 -13.3%
2015 226.2 -15.4%
2016 194.9 -13.8%
2017 157.9 -19.0%
2018 137.5 -12.9%
2019 120.9 -12.1%
2020 136.7 +13.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 222.47 193.3 238.7 7
1990s 174.25 97.9 213 10
2000s 113.92 65.8 290.8 10
2010s 242.69 120.9 343.6 10
2020s 136.7 136.7 136.7 1

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 20 North Macedonia 155.9 compare
  2. 21 Bulgaria 155.5 compare
  3. 22 Czechia 137 compare
  4. 24 Lithuania 126 compare
  5. 25 Norway 125 compare
  6. 26 Croatia 124.8 compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland?
Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland was 136.7 in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by type of employment sought recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 343.6 in 2012.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by type of employment sought recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 65.8 in 2001.
How does Ireland rank for unemployed persons by type of employment sought?
Ireland ranks 23rd out of 34 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by type of employment sought rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by type of employment sought. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-type-of-employment-sought/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by type of employment sought
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
37 places, 988 data points, 1983–2020
Last refreshed