The estimated number of people in employment during the first quarter of 2025 stood at just under 2.8 million, marking a 3.3 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
According to the latest Labour Force Survey from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the unemployment rate also edged up slightly to 4.3 per cent, from 4.1 per cent a year earlier.
Among the sectors showing the strongest year-on-year employment growth were education, which saw an increase of 21,500 jobs (up 9.3 per cent), and financial, insurance & real estate activities, which added 15,600 jobs (an 11.5 per cent rise).
The most significant decline was recorded in the wholesale & retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles & motorcycles sector, which shed 8,200 jobs, a 2.5 per cent drop.
The total labour force was estimated at 2,918,300 for Q1 2025, representing a 3.5 per cent increase from the previous year.