Marked 'contrast' in Kilkenny jobseeker figures compared to other counties

New analysis of CSO data shows Kilkenny as one of the counties with the lowest rates of jobseekers in Ireland.

Kilkenny recorded 32 people signing on per 1,000 working-age residents (aged 15-64) in January, the second lowest figure nationally, according to the National Pension Helpline study.

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This means that around one in 31 working-age Kilkenny residents were on the Live Register in January, compared to one in 14 in Louth, which had the highest rate.

Other counties with low per-capita rates included Meath (24), Cork (34), and Kildare (38), while the highest rates were seen in Louth (71), Longford (66) and Donegal (66).

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

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“For Kilkenny, roughly one in 31 working-age residents is on the Live Register. In Louth, the figure is just one in 14.

“This contrast shows why it’s important to consider both per-capita rates and total numbers when assessing labour market pressures across the country.”

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Mr Dorrian added that local economic conditions, available employment opportunities, and recent changes to national schemes such as the Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit can all influence monthly trends.

“Keeping track of these figures helps policymakers and local authorities target interventions, skills development programmes, and investment where job creation is most needed,” he said.

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