Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 11.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland stood at 11.8%.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland peaked at 37.4% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2000.
That places Ireland 83rd out of 157 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 23.3% | — |
| 1984 | 26.1% | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 29.1% | +10.5% |
| 1987 | 28.6% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 27.1% | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 23.7% | -12.8% |
| 1990 | 20.9% | -11.7% |
| 1991 | 24.7% | +18.3% |
| 1992 | 24.3% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 26.9% | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 25.1% | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 20.3% | -19.2% |
| 1996 | 19.1% | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 16.8% | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 11.8% | -29.4% |
| 1999 | 8.7% | -26.6% |
| 2000 | 6.2% | -28.2% |
| 2001 | 6.5% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +35.6% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | +17.8% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | +60.6% |
| 2009 | 31.6% | +91.7% |
| 2010 | 34.8% | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 36.1% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 37.4% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 30.3% | -19.0% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 19.7% | -16.5% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | -18.4% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +7.6% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | -38.2% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +16.1% |
| 2024 | 13.4% | +24.2% |
| 2025 | 11.8% | -12.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 83% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 77% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.3% | 23.3% | 29.1% | 7 |
| 1990s | 19.9% | 8.7% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 6.2% | 31.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 14.2% | 37.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 9.3% | 15.3% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland was 11.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 37.4% in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2000.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Ireland ranks 83rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.9%. 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.