What is the unemployment rate in Ireland according to Census 2022?

Census 2022 recorded a national unemployment rate of approximately 5%. This is based on the labour force classification used by the CSO, which counts people who are unemployed and actively seeking work. Individual electoral divisions range from near zero to over 15%.

Which areas of Ireland have the highest unemployment?

Specific urban electoral divisions — particularly in Dublin, Limerick, and Cork — record the highest rates, often above 15%. High unemployment EDs are concentrated in outer city estates and urban periphery areas. IrelandInsights maps the precise rate for all 3,420 EDs based on Census 2022 data.

How does unemployment differ between urban and rural Ireland?

Urban EDs tend to show higher headline unemployment rates, particularly in city periphery estates. Rural EDs often show lower headline unemployment but higher economic inactivity rates — people of working age not in employment and not counted as unemployed. The two patterns require different interpretation.

Where are the lowest unemployment rates in Ireland?

The lowest unemployment rates are found in commuter belt electoral divisions in Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, and Louth, as well as in affluent suburban EDs in south Dublin. These areas combine strong local employment with good access to Dublin city employment.

Ireland Labour Force Data · Census 2022

Unemployment rate in Ireland by area — what Census 2022 shows

Some electoral divisions in Ireland record unemployment above 15% — more than three times the national Census 2022 average of ~5%. Adjacent EDs in the same postcode can differ by 8 to 10 points. The county figure hides all of it. The data is below.

Niall Thomas · 4 min read

Ireland unemployment — Census 2022 overview

National Rate

~5%

Census 2022

Electoral Divisions

3,420

All mapped

Highest rates

15%+

Urban EDs

Lowest rates

<2%

Commuter belt EDs

Source: CSO Census 2022 — Labour Force Classification by Electoral Division across all 3,420 EDs in Ireland.

Census methodology note: This map uses the Census 2022 economic status classification. It counts people looking for their first job, students, and the long-term unemployed as a share of the total population. The ILO rate (~5% nationally in 2022) differs — it counts only those actively seeking work as a share of the labour force. Very high values in specific EDs usually reflect small areas with large student or economically inactive populations (e.g. campus areas, care facilities), not community-wide job losses.

Unemployment rate by electoral division, Census 2022 Switch to education → Switch to renting →

The national rate hides deep local variation

A 5% national ILO figure is an average, not a lived reality. Within cities, individual electoral divisions often sit well above that average. Adjacent EDs in the same postcode can diverge by 8 to 10 percentage points. County averages hide all of this.

Areas with the highest unemployment rates

These electoral divisions recorded the highest unemployment rates in Census 2022. High unemployment EDs are concentrated in specific urban areas — not distributed evenly across cities or counties.

Electoral Division	Unemployment Rate
1. St. LAURENCELimerick City	27.3%
2. SHORTCOURSEWaterford City	16.1%
3. SHANNON BLimerick City	14.7%
4. ROSMOYLANRoscommon	14.6%
5. ARABELAKerry	14.3%
6. JOHN'S ALimerick City	14%

Explore unemployment across Ireland →

Areas with the lowest unemployment rates

Electoral divisions with the lowest recorded unemployment in Census 2022. Low unemployment concentrates in commuter belt towns, affluent suburbs, and areas with strong local employment bases.

Electoral Division	Unemployment Rate
1. KILTORCANKilkenny	0%
2. ILLIONGalway	0%
3. LOUGHBRINKerry	0%
4. BARROOSKYMayo	0%
5. NEALSTOWNLaois	0%
6. WILLIAMSTOWNCork	0.5%

Explore employment rate across Ireland →

Urban concentration is the dominant pattern

High unemployment clusters in specific urban EDs — particular parts of Dublin, Limerick, and Cork city. Rural areas tell a different story: lower headline rates, but higher economic inactivity. Many working-age adults there are not in work and not counted as unemployed.

Unemployment and education track each other

Across Ireland's 3,420 electoral divisions, low third-level attainment and high unemployment go together. Only 40.9% of Irish adults hold a third-level qualification nationally. The EDs furthest below that figure tend to show the highest unemployment rates.

Urban periphery: Outer city estates in Dublin, Limerick, and Cork consistently record the highest unemployment rates — often three to four times the national average.
Rural inactivity: Low unemployment figures in many rural EDs can mask high economic inactivity. Working-age adults not in employment and not seeking work are not counted as unemployed.
Commuter belt: EDs in Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, and Louth record some of the lowest unemployment in Ireland — reflecting Dublin employment access combined with lower land prices.

The gap between Dublin's highest and lowest unemployment EDs can reach 12 percentage points within a single county. That is a very different story from the national headline. The map shows that contrast at neighbourhood level.

Map unemployment by area

IrelandInsights shows unemployment rates for every electoral division in Ireland using Census 2022 data. Overlay education, home ownership, and age to see the full picture of any area.

Unemployment map Employment rate Education map

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Data: CSO Census 2022 · Labour Force Classification by Electoral Division · 3,420 Electoral Divisions