A new set of statistics from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May stood at 9.8%, unchanged from the April rate.

The newly issued Monthly Unemployment figures from the CSO show that the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed stood at 209,700 in May, down 300 on April.

The May figure is also down sharply from the unemployment rate of 11.7% the same month last year.

Today's new figures are designed to provide what the CSO said would be more detailed and timely Labour Market statistics.

The CSO said the new release contains a series of both monthly unemployment rates and unemployment volumes and is in line with international practice.

According to the CSO, the new figures replace the seasonally adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rate, which up to this had been reported in the monthly Live Register figures.

The Live Register shows the the number of people registering for Unemployment Assistance/Benefit or for various other social welfare payments.