Dublin has seen the sharpest fall in the number of people signing on the Live Register this year. In the 12 months to the end of November there were 12 per cent fewer on the Live Register in Dublin, compared with a drop of 11 per cent in the Mid-West and 10 per cent in the Midlands. Other regions experienced small declines, with the Border registering the lowest fall at 3 per cent.
Nevertheless, Dublin still accounts for the largest single block of people signing on the Live Register at 71,926, a third of the total. Leinster, including Dublin, accounts for 53 per cent of the Live Register. Munster accounts for almost 28 per cent, Connacht just over 12 per cent and Ulster 7.6 per cent.
In November 1996, there were 81,879 people signing on the dole in Dublin, compared with 71,926 in November 1997. The biggest drop was in the number of men signing on, down 7,391. The number of women has fallen by 2,562.
The Live Register is no longer used as a measure of unemployment, as it includes people like part-time workers and people signing on for social welfare credits towards their pensions. Nevertheless, the figures can be taken as an indicator of overall trends, as it also includes people claiming unemployment benefit.