Unemployment in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment was 169.23 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment in Ireland, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment in Ireland stood at 169.23.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 33.6% on the previous year and down 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in Ireland peaked at 427.12 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 125.38, in 2022.
That places Ireland 40th out of 58 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Unemployment in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 135.75 | — |
| 2005 | 140.8 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 135.84 | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 179.98 | +32.5% |
| 2008 | 225.49 | +25.3% |
| 2009 | 327.6 | +45.3% |
| 2010 | 362.68 | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 404.61 | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 427.12 | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 404.51 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 354.32 | -12.4% |
| 2015 | 274.6 | -22.5% |
| 2016 | 263.68 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 249.55 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 196.04 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | 222.08 | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 185.68 | -16.4% |
| 2021 | 245.52 | +32.2% |
| 2022 | 125.38 | -48.9% |
| 2023 | 141.84 | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 126.65 | -10.7% |
| 2025 | 169.23 | +33.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 169.23 is below the median for high income countries, which is 266.61, 63% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 169.23 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 266.61, 63% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 190.91 | 135.75 | 327.6 | 6 |
| 2010s | 315.92 | 196.04 | 427.12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 165.72 | 125.38 | 245.52 | 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 in Ireland?
- Unemployment in Ireland was 169.23 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 427.12 in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 125.38 in 2022.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment?
- Ireland ranks 40th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.4%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.