The number of people on the Live Register in the Midlands jumped by 1,140 in July, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO ).
In comparison with June, when 33,332 people signed on in counties Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, and Laois, in July this figure had risen to 34,472.
The increase is even more marked when compared with last year’s figures. In July 2009, there were 31,912 on the Live Register, some 2,560 less than this year.
An analysis of the age profile of those signing on in the Midlands revealed that 26,992 were over 25 years of age, while just 7,480 were under the age of 25.
Nationally, the number of people on the Live Register in July climbed by 8,500 to 452,500, the biggest rise in the seasonally adjusted figure for a year.
According to the CSO, the unemployment rate rose from 13.4 to 13.7 per cent in July. The largest number of people signing on were professionals, making up more than a fifth of the Live Register figure.
