The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Ireland inched higher to 4.9% in May of 2026 from 4.8% in the previous month and 4.6% in the previous year, although it remained below this year's peak of 5%. The number of net employment in the Irish economy rose by 1,000 to 141,700. The unemployment rate for the male population was held unchanged at 4.5%, while that for the female population inched higher to 5.3% from 5.2%.