Unemployment has fallen below 9% for the first time since the end of 2008, giving one of the strongest indications of this year’s economic growth. According to the latest CSO figures, the total number of people on the live register has now fallen to below 200,000, while 56,000 people have joined the workforce in the last 12 months.

The latest figures were welcomed by IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody. “Employment is the biggest determinate of income for most individuals and their families, which is why IMPACT committed itself to prioritising job creation as a core economic policy at our conference last year. These latest figures are a positive sign, and employment must remain a top priority across the union movement, including among public service unions” he said.

The figures also show that the long term unemployment rate has fallen from 6.4% to 5% in the past year. Jobs minister Ged Nash said the long term unemployment figure is still too high, “We need to do more to ensure that those who have been without work for a year or more are assisted in gaining the skills and confidence to reap the benefits of our jobs recovery,” he said.

The CSO figures also show that;

• The unemployment rate has reduced from 15.1% in February 2012 to 8.9%
• Jobs have grown in all eight regions. The strongest growth is in the South East (14.4%), the Midlands (13.8%) and the Border region(12%)
• Part-time employment fell in the past 12 months and full time employment increased by 59,400
• Employment grew in 12 out of 14 economic sectors, with the largest increases recorded in construction and industry
• Long term unemployment has declined from 204,300 in early 2012 to 109,800 - a decrease of 46%.