Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months

Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months

Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months

Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months

Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months

Unemployment has soared to almost 280,000 in recent months.

Official figures showed twice as many men as women were out of work in September, with the number of unemployed up 120,000 over the previous year.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said the largest drop in jobs was recorded in construction, which fell by 80,800.

Industry saw the second biggest fall, down 41,100 in the year, while the wholesale and retail sector and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles reported 31,400 job losses.

Elsewhere the quarterly national household survey revealed 1.9 million people were still employed in the third quarter - down 184,700 in the previous 12 months.

PA Media