Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 11.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland is 11.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 41.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland peaked at 30.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2001.
Ireland ranks 95th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 21.3% | — |
| 1984 | 23.4% | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 25.0% | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 26.2% | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 26.0% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 21.8% | -13.5% |
| 1990 | 19.7% | -9.6% |
| 1991 | 23.1% | +17.2% |
| 1992 | 22.7% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 25.0% | +10.0% |
| 1994 | 23.0% | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | -17.6% |
| 1996 | 18.1% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | -12.2% |
| 1998 | 11.4% | -28.1% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -25.1% |
| 2000 | 6.5% | -23.8% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +26.6% |
| 2003 | 8.1% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 8.3% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 8.2% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 9.2% | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | +47.1% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +81.9% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 29.6% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 30.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 23.4% | -12.4% |
| 2015 | 20.2% | -13.6% |
| 2016 | 16.8% | -17.0% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | -14.2% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 12.5% | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +22.5% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -39.7% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | +20.8% |
| 2025 | 11.8% | -4.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 85% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 78% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.1% | 21.3% | 26.2% | 7 |
| 1990s | 18.7% | 8.6% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 6.2% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.6% | 12.5% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 9.4% | 15.7% | 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Ireland ranks 95th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.7%. 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 total (% of total 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.