The State’s unemployment rate dropped to 10.5 per cent last month, as conditions in the labour market continued to improve.

The latest figures indicate that the number of claimants on the Live Register dropped by 3,600 in January. As a result, the seasonally adjusted register, which includes casual and part-time workers, stood at 367,100.

In unadjusted terms there were 358,672 people signing on the Live Register in January 2015. This represents an annual decrease of 40,958 (-10.2 per cent).

The figures, compiled by the Central Statistics Office, shows long-term unemployment decreased by 16,482 (-9.1 per cent) in the month.

The number of male long term claimants decreased by 15,840 (-12.8 per cent) in the year to January 2015, while females decreased by 642 (-1.1 per cent).

In the year to January 2015, the number of persons aged under 25 on the Live Register decreased by 11,248 (-18.6 per cent). Annual decreases in persons aged under 25 have occurred in all months since July 2010. The percentage of persons aged under 25 on the Live Register now stands at 13.7 per cent for January 2015, down from 15.1 per cent in January 2014 and 15.9 per cent in January 2013.

There were 72,085 casual and part-time workers on the live register last month which represents 20.1 per cent of the total Live Register.