New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the Covid -19 crisis continues to have a significant impact on the labour market here in April.
The CSO said that the standard measure of Monthly Unemployment stood at 5.8% in April. But it added that its Covid-19 Adjusted Measure of Unemployment indicates a jobless rate as high as 22.4% if all claimants of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) were classified as unemployed.
That figure is down from 23.8% in March and from 30.5% in April 2020. Most of the economy remained under lockdown in April, with only housebuilding allowed to recommence.
All other building sites reopened this week with retail stores set to follow from Monday and bars and restaurants allowed to serve guests