The Number of people on the Live Register went up for the first time this year according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
There were 23,304 people in Galway on the Live Register in May according to CSO figures, up from 23,154 in April, an increase of 150 people.
There were 11,652 in Galway County on the Live Register in May, 1,271 people were on the register in Ballinasloe, along with 701 in Clifden.
Galway city had 5,826 people on the register last month, while there 840 people in Gort, 1,270 in Loughrea, and 1,744 people on the register in Tuam.
This is the first time in 2018 when the Live Register has expanded in Galway. Overall there’s been a 7% drop throughout Galway since January, when there were 25,040 people on the Register. While nationwide there’s been a seasonally adjusted decrease of over 4,000 people.
The Live Register keeps an estimate of unemployment levels around the country be tallying up the number of people receiving certain unemployment benefits.
It’s made up of people who are receiving Jobseekers Benefits or Jobseekers Allowance, or part-time workers who qualify for either of those payments. The register also includes people signing on for PRSI credits but who don’t receive any payment.
Galway has seen an annual decrease in the number of people on the Live Register of 14%, down 3,784 people from 27,088 in May 2017.
The largest monthly drop in Galway this year was between March and April when 1,228 people came off the register.
