New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell  to 7.2% in December from 7.3% in November – the lowest level since August 2008.
The jobless rate has now fallen for seven months in a row and is down from a post-crisis high of 15.2% at the beginning of 2012.

It compares with a current euro zone average of 9.8%.

However it is still too high and I will be working hard with enterprise agencies: IDA, EI and Local Enterprise Offices, employers, unions, ISME, IBEC, Small Firms’ Association , Irish Exporters’ Association, other Government Departments and all stakeholders to further improve employment chances for people who want to and need to work.

IDA figures published yesterday shows that nearly 200,000 people  working in Ireland now directly employed in Foreign Direct Investment Companies.

52% of all jobs announced were outside Dublin. I will be continuing to push the regional agenda so that there is a good spread of jobs right across the country. The pipeline for further jobs to be created by FDI is good.

Enterprise Ireland will be publishing their annual employment figures on Monday next.