The key figures showing a jobs market upturn

Unemployment rate falls below 7 per cent as employment jumps, CSO figures show

Construction jobs market improving

Official figures released this morning show thatthe labour market continued to improve in the first three months of this year, with the number of people at work rising by more than economists had expected and the unemployment rate dropping below 7 per cent for the first time since August 2008.

The Central Statistics Office said employment in the first quarter was 2,045,100, up 68,600 compared with the same period last year.

8 key ...