Donegal now has third-highest rate of jobseekers in Ireland

New analysis of CSO data shows Donegal among the counties with the highest rates of jobseekers in Ireland.

Donegal recorded 66 people signing on per 1,000 working-age residents (aged 15-64), placing it third nationally after Louth and Longford, according to the National Pension Helpline study.

The figures mean that around one in 15 working-age residents in the county were on the Live Register in January, compared to just one in 42 people in Co Meath, which had the lowest rate.

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Louth had the highest rate at 71 per 1,000, while Leitrim (65) and Wexford (62) also recorded high per capita rates.

At the other end of the spectrum, Meath had the lowest rate, with just 24 jobseekers per 1,000 residents, followed by Kilkenny (32) and Cork (34).

“The figures underline that certain counties continue to experience much higher levels of unemployment relative to their population,” said James Dorrian of the National Pension Helpline. “For Donegal, this means that roughly one in fifteen working-age residents is on the Live Register. For comparison, the figure in Meath is just one in 42.

“This contrast shows the importance of considering both per-capita rates and total numbers when assessing labour market pressures across Ireland.”

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

“Monitoring these figures helps policymakers and local authorities understand where interventions, skills development programmes, and investment in job creation are most urgently needed,” he said.