New research reveals staggering statistic about jobseekers in Kilkenny

Kilkenny has the second lowest rate of people on jobseekers payments in the country, new analysis has found.

A breakdown of CSO data shows that 3% of working-age residents in Kilkenny were on the Live Register in October, or 30 jobseekers for every 1,000 people aged 15-64.

The National Pension Helpline research shows Louth had the highest rate with 69 jobseekers per 1,000 residents aged 15-64. 

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Donegal had the second highest rate in October (6.5%), followed by Leitrim (6.3%), Longford (6.2%) and Carlow (6.1%).

At the other end of the scale, Meath had the lowest rate in the Republic, with just 24 jobseekers per 1,000 people. Kilkenny had the second lowest rate, and Cork was third with 34 jobseekers per 1,000.

Overall, County Dublin has the largest total number of people on the Live Register in October with 46,127 – which is 29% of the national figure, and works out at 43 per 1,000 working-age residents, just below the national average of 44.

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There were more than 112,563 people on the Live Register in October for less than a year – 5,844 more people (+5.5%) than in October 2024.

The figures also show more than 15,000 people under the age of 25 are currently on the Live Register, with the highest numbers in Dublin (5,629), Louth (826) and Limerick (851).

Highest Jobseekers Rates per 1,000 (aged 15-64):

Louth (69)

Donegal (65)

Leitrim (63)

Longford (62)

Carlow (61)

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Lowest Jobseekers Rates per 1,000 (aged 15-64):

Meath (24)

Kilkenny (30)

Cork (34)

Kildare (37)

Galway (40)

“These figures highlight the continued variation in jobseekers rates across Ireland,” said James Dorrian of the National Pension Helpline.

“Looking at counties on a per-capita basis based on the working-age populations gives a clearer sense of jobseekers' rates that don’t always show up in overall figures.”

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Mr Dorrian added that the October 2025 Live Register includes claims for the new Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit scheme, which was first introduced at the end of March.

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