Inishowen jobless rate virtually unchanged in April, latest CSO data reveals
For the first time, there are more women than men signing on at the Buncrana social welfare office
The Inishowen unemployment rate was virtually unchanged last month, the latest data from the Central Statistics Office has revealed.
A total of 1,412 people were signing on the Live Register at the Buncrana social welfare office [Intreo] at the end of April, down one single claimant from 1,413 in March.
The annual jobless figure has decreased by almost 9 per cent however, with 126 fewer people claiming Jobseekers payments in Inishowen in April 2025 compared to April 2024.
For the first time, there are more women than men out-of-work in Inishowen. Of last month’s 1,412 claimants at Buncrana, 714 were female [51 per cent] compared to 698 males [49 per cent].
The number of young people without a job continues to fall too, with just 8 per cent of all claimants being aged 25 years and under.
There were 123 people aged under-25 signing on at the end of April, compared to 1,289 people over that age.
Those without jobs aged 18-24 and living independently are entitled to the full adult weekly rate of €244, while younger claimants living at home only receive €153.70 per week.
Younger men are significantly more likely to be without work in Inishowen, with 68 males under-25 and 55 females under-25 signing on in Buncrana last month.
The overall unemployment picture in Inishowen continues to improve massively. During the height of the last economic recession in April 2010 there were just under 5,000 people signing on at Buncrana, more than three-and-a-half times the current total.
In fact, the current Inishowen jobless tally is the lowest of the last 24 consecutive months of April, dating back to April 2001.
Meanwhile, there were 7,599 people signing on the Live Register across County Donegal last month, up slightly from 7,477 in March.