The number of people claiming unemployment benefit has jumped by 17 per cent over the past year, according to figures released yesterday.

The latest live register analysis, compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), shows that 172,000 people are recorded as being out of work, an increase of 25,000 on the same point in 2001.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, 4.4 per cent of the labour force is unemployed, the highest rate since April 2000 and up from the 3.7 per cent recorded at the end of July last year.

Opposition parties greeted news of the rising numbers with stern criticism of the Government's policy on employment. Labour spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment Mr Tommy Broughan said that, if current trends continued, the live register could near 200,000 by year-end.

"Not one positive initiative to deal with consequences of a slowdown in growth has been forthcoming from the Government," he said, accusing the Government of being "in denial" over the figures.

Fine Gael called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, to explain what she intended to do to combat the rising job losses.

"The increase is a shocking indictment on the failing policies of this Government," said Mr Gerard Murphy, the party's deputy spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment.

Employers' lobby IBEC attributed the increasing numbers on the live register to wage growth, which it says is three times the EU average.

The live register has risen in all areas of the State over the past 12 months, with Dublin and the mid-east regions the worst hit, both suffering year-on-year increases of 25 per cent.

On a monthly basis, the register shows a rise of 4.8 per cent in numbers claiming benefit between June and July, compared to a 4.4 per cent increase over the same two months last year.

The live register traditionally grows in July as school- and college-leavers enter the employment market for the first time. The CSO's seasonally adjusted analysis for July, which takes such factors into account, shows a monthly increase of 1,600, or 0.97 per cent, between June and July.

There was a bias against women in the unadjusted monthly rise with 5,580 of the 7,821 newly registered recorded as female. The annual increase of 25,000 included almost 15,500 new male claimants. The July figures also show that an estimated 19,000 casual or part-time workers are registered to claim benefit.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed yesterday called on the Government to take the issue seriously.