Men in Kilrush have the second-highest rate of long-term unemployment of any town in the country.
A new analysis of the most recent census shows over 10% of males in the south-west Clare town have been without a job for 12 months of more.
Figures from last year’s Census put the unemployment rate in Clare at just over 8%, with the long-term unemployment rate at just above 4%.
Further analysis however shows that in the town of Kilrush, 20% of the population are out of a job, with this figure rising to 22% for men.
This makes Kilrush the town with the third-highest unemployment rate nationwide.
The south-west Clare market town also has the third highest percentage of people who are looking for their first regular job, with just under 5% of its residents never having held one before.
Looking at those who have been unemployed for a year or more, Kilrush is the town with the fourth-highest rate nationwide at just under 10%.
When looking at males specifically however, the long-term unemployment rate in the town is over 12%.
This means that Lifford in County Donegal is the only town in the country with a higher male long-term unemployment rate than Kilrush.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate in April 2022 was 8% which was down from 13% in 2016 and 19% in 2011.
