Louth sees large monthly fall in numbers signing on Live Register

There has been a significant monthly fall in the number of people signing on in social welfare offices across Louth according to details released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

7,498 people signed on the Live Register in Louth in September, down 417 or 5.3% on August. It is also down on an annual basis, with 117 fewer signing on in September 2023 compared to September 2022.

In Dundalk, 3,454 people signed on in September, down 176 or 4.9% on the 3,630 who signed on in August. On an annual basis, it is down 110 people or 3% on September 2022.

The largest monthly and annual decrease was seen in Ardee. 739 people signed on the Live Register in September, down 46 or 5.9% on August, and down 51 or 6.5% on September 2022.

Drogheda saw a monthly fall of 5.6% on August, with 3,305 signing on in September, compared to 3,500 in August. On an annual basis however, it was the only town in Louth that saw an increase, with 44 more people signing on in September 2023 compared to September 2022.

Looking at national figures, the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for September 2023 was 180,200 people, up by 4,200 or 2.4% from August 2023. The unadjusted Live Register total stood at 174,150 people for September 2023.

Of the 174,150 people on the unadjusted Live Register in September 2023, 54.1% were male and 69.2% were Irish.

The 35-44 age group made up the largest number of those on the Live Register in September 2023 at 40,780 people or 23.4%. There were 111,325 people on the Live Register for less than one year.