The numbers signing on in Mayo continue to rise with new Live Register statistics published for May by the CSO. The figures show the bleak unemployment trend continuing with an increase of 371 signing on, bringing the total to 11,420, an increase of 5,422 from May 2008.
Out of the 11,420, 7,781 are men and 3,639 are women, with the majority over the age of 25.
Geographically, Ballina remains the county’s unemployment blackspot, standing at 2,860, an increase of 94 from last month and up 1,262 from May 2008.
The largest increase this month was in Castlebar with 108 signing on, bringing the total to 2,109, 1,044 more that last year.
The lowest increase was in Achill, which showed that nine more signed on last month reflecting 393 people, which is up 123 on this time last year. The next lowest increase was in Claremorris which went up 24 to 1,166, a 582 increase on last year.
Westport is up 31 to 1,589, up 914 from last year; Belmullet increased by 38 to 807, up 306 from last year; Swinford is up 67 to 1,517, which is up 659 from last year.
Ballinrobe remained the same at 979 last month, which is an increase of 532 from May 2008.
The Live Register includes part time workers (those who work up to three days a week ), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance.
