The rate of employment growth in Ireland slowed during last year but long-term unemployment has fallen by a third, according to the Quarterly National Household Survey published today.
Ireland's annual unemployment rate fell below 4 per cent for the first time in 2000 with long-term unemployment down by almost 12,000 to 24,200.
The survey also says an increasing number of women have part-time jobs. The total number of people with part-time jobs increased by 9,400 to 279,000.
The survey says almost all of the increase involved women, who now make up three-quarters of part-time workers.
The Dublin region has the lowest unemployment rate with 2.9 per cent. The Border, midland and western regions continue to have the highest jobless rate of 5.7 per cent.
The survey also shows a continuing drift from agriculture. Employment grew in all areas except farming, forestry and fishing.
The number of self-employed persons without employees fell by 9,500. This largely reflected the decline in small farms.
The fastest growing employment areas are construction, the wholesale/retail sector and education.