THE LATEST FIGURES FOR PEOPLE on the Live Register have increased for the first time since August, with 5,200 more people signing on in December.

The CSO says that the seasonally-adjusted figure is comprised of 4,800 men and 400 women, and brings the seasonally adjusted total number of people on the Live Register is now at 444,000.

It points out that the Live Register is ”not designed to measure unemployment” as it includes people working up to three days a week, as well as seasonal and casual workers who are entitled to Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance.

However, the CSO says that the “standardised unemployment rate in December was 13.4%, up from13.2% in November”.

The number seeking Jobseeker’s Benefit rose by 6,075 people (5.1%) and Jobseeker’s Allowance applicants rose by 2% in December. Up to December, the number claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit fell by 24.3%, while it increased by 19.4% for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

While all regions in Ireland recorded an increase on the register for December, the increase was largest in the south-east, where it was up 3.9%. The lowest increase was in Dublin, at 1.6%.

The occupation recorded as “craft and related” by the CSO was the largest group on the Live Register in December at 26.3%.