The State’s jobless rate has dropped to a six-year low of 9.5 per cent, according the latest Quarterly National Household Survey.

The survey shows employment rose by 19,000 or 1 per cent in the second quarter of 2015, following an increase of 15,200 (0.8 per cent) in the previous quarter.

This gave rise to an annual increase in employment of 3 per cent or 57,100, bringing total employment in the economy to 1.95 million.

The survey is considered the most accurate barometer of conditions in the labour market

As a result of the latest findings, the CSO has revised Ireland’s unemployment rate down to 9.5 per cent in July from 9.7 per cent.

The QNHS shows the rate of long-term unemployment decreased from 6.8 per cent to 5.5 per cent over the year to the second quarter.

Nonetheless, it still accounted for 56.1 per cent of total unemployment, albeit this was marginally lower than the 57.6 per cent recorded a year earlier.

Commenting on the figures, Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said the numbers were welcome but more needed to be done, particularly in tackling long term unemployment.

“We have an increase of 3 per cent in the number of people in employment in the year until the end of June 2015,” Ms Burton said.

“That shows the recovery in Ireland has taken hold and in the context of the turmoil that is being experiences internationally it means that Ireland is very well set to progress but also to able to deal with any if the issues that rearising in the world economy.

“We still have a way to go and we have a lot of work to do to help those people who remain unemployed, particularly those people longer term unemployed.”