25. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach to provide the most up to date numbers on employment levels in the retail sector and whether there is any evidence of new job losses or reduced hours [25148/24]

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of employment estimates in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q1 2024.

The LFS sectoral employment figures are based on the EU NACE Rev. 2 classification.

Table 1 below shows the number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) in the NACE Rev.2 Economic Division 47 (Retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) Q1 2019 – Q1 2024.

There were 213,900 persons employed in division 47 Retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles in Q1 2024. This is a decrease of 22,900 persons or -9.7% compared with 12 months earlier.

Table 2 below shows the total hours worked in NACE Rev.2 Economic Division 47 (Retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) Q1 2019 – Q1 2024.

A total of 5.6 million hours* were worked in division 47 (Retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) in Q1 2024. This is a decrease of 810,000 hours or -12.5% compared with 12 months earlier.

*rounded to the nearest 100,000 hours

Table 1 Number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) Q1 2019 - Q1 2024  '000

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.

Table 2 Hours worked Q1 2019 - 2024, millions

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.