Unemployment Rate Drops to 7.2%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2016 was 7.2%. down from 7.3% in November 2016 and down from 8.9% in December 2015, the Central Statistics Office announced on Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 157,700 in December 2016, down from 160,500 when compared to the November 2016 figure and a decrease of 35,500 when compared to December 2015.
In December 2016 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.1% for males, down from 8.4% in November 2016 and down from 10.6% in December 2015. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for females was 6.1%, unchanged from November 2016 and down from 6.9% in December 2015.
The seasonally adjusted number of males unemployed in December 2016 was 97,100. This is a decrease of 2,700 when compared to the November 2016 figure of 99,800. In December 2016 the seasonally adjusted number of females unemployed was 60,600, a decrease of 100 when compared to November 2016.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 14.5% in December 2016, a decrease from 15.4% in November 2016.
