Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has this week updated Government on labour market developments, highlighting the continued strength and resilience of employment in Ireland. Employment reached a record level of over 2.8 million people in 2025, with participation remaining high and job creation continuing across the economy.

Latest CSO figures show unemployment steady at 5.0% in December 2025, close to full employment. Both the Department of Finance and the Central Bank expect unemployment to remain around this level in 2026 and 2027. The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving competitiveness and delivering on its Programme for Government target of creating 300,000 additional jobs by 2030, supporting opportunities for workers and businesses nationwide.

For more on the Ministers remarks, see here.