Irish unemployment continues to fall in March

Ireland's unemployment rate fell from 8.8 percent in February to 8.6 percent in March, according to official figures on Tuesday.

The figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that on a seasonally adjusted basis, 2,900 fewer people were unemployed in March compared to February.

The CSO figures also showed that 23,400 fewer people were unemployed in March compared with 12 months earlier. Unemployment among people aged between 15-24 has fallen by a full percentage point in a month, the CSO said.

Ireland's Jobs Minister Richard Bruton welcomed the latest monthly unemployment statistics, saying that Ireland has in recent years seen major progress in the jobs market, with the unemployment rate falling from over 15 percent to below 9 percent.

"It is hugely encouraging that the numbers of people unemployed continue to fall steadily, particularly as given that traditionally it becomes more difficult to convert increased job creation into reduced unemployment," he said.

But the Irish minister said the unemployment rate is still too high.

"However at 187,700, there are still far too many people unemployed, and we must redouble our efforts to continue the progress on job creation and reduced unemployment, and to ensure that it impacts on people in every part of the country," he said.

"With major risks on the horizon, including Brexit and turmoil in the Middle East, it will be only with careful implementation of a solid plan that we will see continued progress on job creation," he added.

Ireland has a roadmap for full employment in 2018, two years earlier than anticipated, saying that all of the 250,000 jobs that were lost during the recession will be able to be restored. Endit