Irish unemployment rate revised sharply lower to 4.6 percent

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish unemployment rates for March and April were revised down sharply, the statistics agency said on Tuesday, taking the level below 5 percent for the first time since the financial crisis over a decade ago.

Monthly unemployment rates have been subject to sharp revisions in recent quarters and in Tuesday's change April's rate was cut to 4.6 percent from the 5.4 percent previously estimated.

That was due to a big rise in employment, measured comprehensively on a quarterly basis and which jumped by 3.7 percent or 81,200 people year-on-year in the three months to March, compared with a 2.3 percent increase in the previous quarter, the data showed.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin)