The number of Clare people claiming unemployment benefit has plummeted to its lowest level in 23 years.
New CSO data shows that fewer than 3,500 people were signing on here last month.
Approximately 3,497 people were on Clare’s Live Register in September, the fourth lowest ever total recorded here.
The majority of these presented in Ennis, where over 1,900 lined the dole queues, but this was a 12% reduction on the figures for August alone.
There were also notable monthly reductions at offices in Tulla, Kilrush and Ennistymon.
In East Clare, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell from 500 in August to 444 in September, an 11% drop.
In West Clare, exactly 600 people attended the social welfare office, while 510 signed on in North Clare, a monthly drop of 5% in both locations.
