The number of people on the Live Register in Clare has jumped by more than 37% in the year to February.
The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that almost 5,300 people in the county were claiming some form of unemployment benefit last month.
A total of 5,296 people in Clare claimed unemployment benefit last month – an increase of over 37% on the previous February where 3,850 were on the live register.
The number of people under the age of 25 who were in receipt of the benefit has skyrocketed by 227% – from 169 in February 2022 to 553 last month.
The majority of people signed on in Ennis this February – with 2,514 people doing so.
This is a rise of 35% on the numbers visiting this social welfare office last year.
1,365 people were on the live register in North Clare – an increase of nearly 84% on the number of people claiming in Ennistymon last February.
809 people signed on in West Clare, while 608 joined the queue in East Clare.
