The monthly unemployment rate fell slightly again last month, to 7.2%.

There were 157,700 people out of work in December, according to the latest CSO figures.

The figure is a decrease of 0.1% on the previous month, and 1.7% percent lower than the same time last year.

The 7.2% unemployment rate is now the lowest it has been since the crash.

It compares with a rate of 7.3% in November and 8.9% in December 2015.