Irish COVID-19 jobless claims tumble at fastest rate this year

DUBLIN - The resumption of indoor service in Irish restaurants and bars pushed the number of people claiming temporary COVID-19 jobless benefits down 15% in the last week, the largest fall since the economy's third and longest lockdown began to be unwound.

Just over 163,000 people received the payment for those who lost their jobs due to one of Europe's toughest lockdown regimes, which saw restrictions reimposed in late December before the gradual reopening of most sectors over the last four months.

Ireland's unemployment rate stood at 18.3% at the end of June, including the then 228,000 recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.