Carlow live register up in December as national numbers fall year on year

THE NUMBER of people signing on the live register in Carlow county rose in December 2025 and remains below its 2023 level but above more recent annual figures, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

A total of 2,812 people were on the live register in Carlow in December 2025 - this includes part-time and seasonal workers as well as those who are unemployed. This was 213 higher than in November, but down from December 2023, when 2,909 people were signing on in the county.

However, the December 2025 figure was higher than December 2024.

Nationally, the CSO recorded 172,224 people on the live register across Ireland in December 2025. This compares with 173,003 people in December 2023, confirming that the register numbers at national level have continued to trend downward over the past two years, despite a seasonal increase at the end of 2025.

In neighbouring Kilkenny, there were 2,243 people on the live register in December 2025, compared with 2,410 in December 2023, representing a clear reduction over the two-year period.

County Laois recorded 3,096 people on the live register in December 2025. While this was lower than the 3,292 recorded in December 2023, Laois continues to have a higher total than both Carlow and Kilkenny.

The figures place Carlow between Kilkenny and Laois in overall Live Register numbers, but show that the county has not experienced the same scale of improvement since 2023 as some neighbouring areas.

The CSO notes that the live register is not a direct measure of unemployment because it includes people who are unemployed as well as those working part-time or seasonally.

December figures are typically influenced by seasonal factors, particularly in sectors like retail, hospitality and construction. Whether Carlow’s increase at the end of 2025 proves temporary will become clearer when figures for early 2026 are published.