Unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland

Ireland: Unemployment of previously employed persons was 89.78 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
89.78
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
68th
of 106 countries
All-time high
278.61
in 2012
All-time low
35.55
in 2001
Years of data
35
1988–2024

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland, 1988–2024

501001502002503001988200620241988: 2171989: 196.81990: 172.41991: 198.51993: 1771994: 168.91995: 140.41996: 139.71997: 128.11998: 126.61999: 53.62000: 41.32001: 35.52002: 45.22003: 72.12004: 74.42005: 72.12007: 89.62008: 127.52009: 244.92010: 273.72011: 273.62012: 278.62013: 245.22014: 207.12015: 169.52016: 1432017: 117.52018: 100.72019: 86.72020: 104.82021: 134.52022: 88.12023: 86.62024: 89.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland stood at 89.78.

That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and down 56.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland peaked at 278.61 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 35.55, in 2001.

That places Ireland 68th out of 106 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Ireland, 1988 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1988 217
1989 196.8 -9.3%
1990 172.4 -12.4%
1991 198.5 +15.1%
1993 177.04 -10.8%
1994 168.92 -4.6%
1995 140.42 -16.9%
1996 139.74 -0.5%
1997 128.14 -8.3%
1998 126.6 -1.2%
1999 53.64 -57.6%
2000 41.27 -23.1%
2001 35.55 -13.9%
2002 45.19 +27.1%
2003 72.11 +59.6%
2004 74.38 +3.1%
2005 72.08 -3.1%
2007 89.6 +24.3%
2008 127.54 +42.3%
2009 244.94 +92.0%
2010 273.65 +11.7%
2011 273.58 -0.0%
2012 278.61 +1.8%
2013 245.18 -12.0%
2014 207.12 -15.5%
2015 169.52 -18.2%
2016 142.98 -15.7%
2017 117.5 -17.8%
2018 100.7 -14.3%
2019 86.74 -13.9%
2020 104.76 +20.8%
2021 134.5 +28.4%
2022 88.11 -34.5%
2023 86.64 -1.7%
2024 89.78 +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 206.9 196.8 217 2
1990s 145.04 53.64 198.5 9
2000s 89.19 35.55 244.94 9
2010s 189.56 86.74 278.61 10
2020s 100.76 86.64 134.5 5

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 65 Lithuania 101.16 compare
  2. 66 Thailand 100.34 compare
  3. 67 Norway 95.58 compare
  4. 69 Sri Lanka 85.25 compare
  5. 70 Bosnia and Herzegovina 80.93 compare
  6. 71 Georgia 72.34 compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland?
Unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland was 89.78 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 278.61 in 2012.
What is the lowest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 35.55 in 2001.
How does Ireland rank for unemployment of previously employed persons?
Ireland ranks 68th out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment of previously employed persons rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment of previously employed persons in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-of-previously-employed-persons-previous-ilo-definition-icls13/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
106 places, 2,348 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

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. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.