The seasonally-adjusted rate of unemployment has fallen by 1,900 to 227,200, the lowest rate since October 1990, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
In percentage terms the rate of seasonally-adjusted unemployment for July of 9.1 per cent is the lowest since current records began in 1983. This is the 16th month in a row in which the seasonally-adjusted rate has fallen.
The buoyant employment figures were underscored by another set of figures from the CSO which showed that earnings in the construction industry rose by 9.2 per cent for the 12 months between March 1997 and March 1998.
There was an increase of 12.9 per cent in the hourly rate paid to all grades, from £6.75 to £7.62, although the number of hours worked per week fell by 3 per cent.
The unadjusted unemployment figure shows a rise of 3,900 to 232,800 for the month of July, but most of this is accounted for by the ending of the school year which means certain students and many temporary teachers sign on the live register.
The month's seasonally-adjusted figure fell by 26,400 when compared to July last year. Of this some 19,000 is accounted for by falls in male unemployment which is now down to 135,000 compared to female unemployment of 92,200.
The figures also show that seasonally-adjusted unemployment among the under 25s has fallen from 58,900 to 47,100 between last month and July 1997. The latest figures available show the seasonally-adjusted EU average rate of unemployment standing at 10.2 per cent. Germany has a rate of 10 per cent, Spain has 18.9 per cent, Britain has 6.5 per cent and France has a rate of 11.9 per cent.
The Republic's percentage rate has been falling constantly since July 1996 and this year it has gone from 9.7 per cent in January to the current rate of 9.1 per cent.
Last week figures for 1997 from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs showed that one in seven of those interviewed by officials during the year about their eligibility for welfare payments signed off subsequently.
The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) said the figures show that contrary to popular belief the unemployed are accepting jobs.
Mr Barrie McLatchie, INOU chairman, said that the figures "hardly warrant the threats from the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, of cutting people off the dole".
The Fine Gael spokeswoman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Nora Owen said it was a "serious cause for concern that most of those signing on in July were women".
The Labour Party spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tommy Broughan said the live register figures should be falling faster.
"It seems we are getting closer to the hard-core of long term unemployment and unless the Government adopts a very focused approach to welfare-to-work, the opportunity to make in-roads into long term unemployment will be lost," he said.
