The number of people on the Live Register fell by 15,350 in September to 160,466, a fall of 8.7%, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The seasonally adjusted figure showed a drop of 2,800 to 163,700 from 166,500 in August.
The unemployment rate was steady at 4.5% in September, the CSO added.
The CSO says the Live Register figures fell in all regions last month. The largest falls were in the West and Mid-West, while the lowest decreases were in the South-West and Dublin regions.
Davy Stockbrokers said the release confirmed just how healthy the Irish labour market was at present, and also that the rise in numbers claiming benefit in July was a temporary blip.
