The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has highlighted that the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers in 2025
In total, 2,825,500 people are now employed in Ireland. Over the course of the first 3 quarters of the year, employment was up 61,500.
This record level of employment reflects the resilience of the economy, the collective effort of the Irish workforce and the success of government policies aimed at supporting job creation, fostering innovation and providing opportunities for all sectors. Labour market participation rates remain at high levels, marking a continuation of the trends observed in recent years, with employment numbers hitting new highs and with labour force continuing to expand helped by high levels of inward migration.
In respect of unemployment, numbers remain low although and remains broadly consistent with full employment. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.9% in November 2025, down from 5.0% in October.
Both in an absolute sense and relative to our peers, the Irish labour market has performed remarkably well. Relative to the EU, Ireland has one of the lowest unemployment rates. For 2025 Q3, the unemployment rate in Ireland was 4.9%, relative to 6.4% in the euro area, and 6.0% in the EU. The employment rate in Ireland was 79.9% in 2025 Q3 relative to 75.8% across the euro area, and 76.2% in the EU.
Commenting on the figures, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD expressed confidence in the country’s continued economic success, stating:
“The Irish labour market continues to demonstrate remarkable strength, evidenced by strong employment levels and adaptability across sectors. We have been creating employment at close to 1,000 extra jobs per week, which is a solid achievement given the external environment. We continue to have one of the lowest unemployment levels in Europe.”