Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland is 4.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 56.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland peaked at 17.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2001.
That places Ireland 95th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 14.3% | — |
| 1984 | 16.0% | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 17.3% | +8.4% |
| 1986 | 17.3% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 17.6% | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 17.0% | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 15.9% | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 13.6% | -14.3% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +12.6% |
| 1992 | 14.9% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 15.4% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 14.5% | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 11.9% | -17.6% |
| 1996 | 11.7% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | -22.3% |
| 1999 | 5.9% | -25.3% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -26.6% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | -13.3% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | +20.4% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | +51.4% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +98.4% |
| 2010 | 17.1% | +13.2% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 17.7% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | -16.1% |
| 2014 | 12.7% | -14.5% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | -15.3% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -15.9% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | -21.7% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | -18.1% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | +13.4% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -32.1% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +7.0% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +3.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 4.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 96% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 4.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4%, 87% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +98.4% | 7.6% | 15.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.5% | 14.3% | 17.6% | 7 |
| 1990s | 12.1% | 5.9% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 3.8% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 5.2% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.3% | 6.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ireland was 4.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 2011.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Ireland ranks 95th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.