There was an increase of 6,063 in the numbers unemployed during December, bringing the total on the Live Register to 170,604.
However, the jobless total usually rises in December as a result of the closure of schools, colleges and other institutions over the Christmas holiday period.
When these factors are taken into account, the seasonally adjusted jobless total fell by 700 during the month, the fifth successive monthly reduction in unemployment since last July.
According to the Live Register statement published by the Central Statistics Office, the unemployment rate now stands at 4.7%.
