The unemployment rate was 5.2% in February when adjusted for seasonal factors, unchanged from January, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.
However, when those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are included, the rate was 7% in February, down from 7.8% in January.
The Covid-adjusted unemployment rate had stood at 27% in February of last year. The CSO said the seasonally adjusted number of people registered as unemployed was 135,100 last month, down 2,000 from January and down 45,000 compared to February 2021.
Commenting on today's CSO figures, Jack Kennedy - an economist at global job site Indeed - said the jobless rate fell in February as the reduced pandemic restrictions helped to stimulate rehiring and returned the labour market to a positive path.