New figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal that the number of people signing on to the Live Register fell by 2,900 in September to stand at 155,300. This compares with an increase of 600 in August and is the lowest figure since April 2005.
The CSO says that last month the unemployment rate stood at 4.4%, unchanged from June.
Today's figures show that in the year to September, there was an unadjusted decrease of 1,028 (down 0.7%). This compares with an unadjusted increase of 221 (0.1%) in the year to August 2006, the CSO says.
The CSO says that the figures show an unadjusted monthly decrease of 17,307, or 10.2%, on the Live Register, which reflected decreases in all the country's regions. The largest percentage decrease was seen in the Mid-East, while the smallest increase was witnessed in the Midland region.
There were also decreases in all countries with the largest falls in Meath and Mayo, and the smallest in Offaly and Wexford.
Davy Stockbrokers said the figures were even better than they looked, when the 100,000 surge in the labour force in the last 18 months was taken into account. In a note, it said the Live Register was a reliable guide to the downturn in the economy in 2001 and the upturn in June 2003, and there was no reason to expect otherwise this time round. Davy said the Irish labour market 'had never been firmer'.
