The number of people signing on the Live Register fell by 2,000 in August to 434,400, according to seasonally adjusted figures.
The Central Statistics Office reports that the rate of unemployment remains at 14.7%.
The non-adjusted figure for the number of people signing on the Live Register fell by 13,457 (2.9%) in the month of August.
The number of people on the Live Register for more than a year in August was 201,513.
The figure for long-term unemployed continues to grow and currently stands at 44.2% of the total, up 40.8% from a year ago and 24.7% in February 2010.
ISME described the figures as "awful" and said they show that the labour market remains in crisis.
The Live Register includes part-time workers, seasonal workers and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance.
Unemployment as measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey stood at 309,000 in the first quarter of 2012.
