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Useful stats out this week

The latest unemployment rate was released this week, along with an insight into Irish companies' exporting plans, and the number of companies formed in Q3 of this year. Read on for key stats from each report. 

Unemployment rate falls below 8% in September

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2016 was 7.9%, down from the revised 8.2% in August 2016 and down from 9.1% in September 2015.

The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 172,900 in September 2016, down from 180,200 when compared to the August 2016 figure and a decrease of 24,000 when compared to September 2015.

 See the CSO website for more information.

Live Register below 300,000 for the first time since 2008

On a seasonally adjusted basis the Live Register total recorded a monthly decrease of 7,700 (-2.6%) in September 2016, reducing the seasonally adjusted total to 290,600. The number of persons on the Live Register in September 2016 is the lowest number recorded in the seasonally adjusted series since December 2008.

The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment, as it includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA). Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey.

See the CSO website for more information.

Almost 9 in 10 companies plan to expand into new markets 

Almost nine out of ten Irish companies plan to extend into new international markets over the next 12 months according to a new survey by Enterprise Ireland, the state agency responsible for helping companies to grow their exports internationally.

According to the results of the survey of 356 companies registered to attend International Markets Week which took place this week in Dublin:

  • The top 3 export target markets are USA/Canada, Northern Europe and the United Kingdom.
  • These market regions are closely followed by Southern Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia and Central Europe/Eastern Europe/CIS and Russia.
  • Nearly one in five companies with global expansion plans indicated an interest in Latin America.
  • Four out of five companies are active in the UK market.
  • Eighty percent of those active in the UK said they plan to deepen their involvement in the UK market.

See Enterprise Ireland's Global Ambition website for information and support on exporting.

Over 11,000 businesses and companies formed in Q3

11,493 Irish companies and businesses were formed in Q3 2016, according to Vision-net.ie's Business Baromater. That's an increase of 2% on the same period last year.

Finance was one of Ireland’s fastest growing industries for new company start-ups during the quarter with 758 being formed - up 17% on Q3-2015 (647). Professional services remained the most popular industry for new companies and accounted for 18% of these, with finance and wholesale & retail in second and third place respectively (14.6% and 11%).

Dublin remained the most popular location with 47% of new companies being based there, followed by a further 11% in Cork and just over 4% in Galway.

For more information, visit Vision-net.ie.