The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since the autumn of 2008.

The Central Statistics Office says the rate was 7.8% this month, down from 7.9% last month and a drop of nearly 2% on the 9.6% rate a year ago.

There are now 169,700 people unemployed compared to 208,000 in May of last year.

The youth unemployment rate for people aged 15-24 years was 15% in May, down from 15.3% the month previous to that.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has welcomed the figures, but says concern remains for rising numbers of people being unemployed for more than five years.