The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of people signing on the Live Register actually fell in September.
The CSO figures show that the number of people signing on decreased by 16,417 in September to stand at 423,639 compared to August's figure of 440,056.
Over 4,300 were added to the Live Register in August.
When seasonally adjusted, however, the Live Register figure rose by 600 from 428,800 in August to 429,400 in September.
In the year to September, there was an unadjusted increase of 183,422 of people on the Live Register - an increase of 76.4%. This compares to an increase of 77.9% in the year to August.
The CSO said the unemployment rate in September stood at 12.6%, unchanged from a revised figure for August. This is the first time the unemployment rate has not risen since the end of 2007.
More evidence of recession coming to an end?
National Irish Bank economist Ronnie O'Toole said today's Live Register figures add to the growing evidence of a surprisingly fast end to the economic decline and increases the possibility that the recession has now ended.
Mr O'Toole noted that the number of under 25s on the dole fell by 2,000 in the month - a noticeable drop in a group that has been hit badly over the last year. He said this may indicate a rise in emigration among this group, though the stabilisation in economic conditions may also be playing a major role.
He said the slowing rise in the rate of unemployment is likely to have a positive effect on numerous areas of the economy, most notably in helping the Government frame its 2010 Budget.
Bloxham economist Alan McQuaid that today's Live Register figures offer some ray of hope that the worst is over on the job losses front and things are slowly starting to stabilise.
'Based on these latest numbers, it looks like the jobless rate will end the year at just under 13%, with an average jobless rate for the year as a whole of 11.8% as against 6.3% in 2008 and 4.6% in 2007,' he said.
'Although the unemployment rate may break through the 13% level in 2010, it is now likely to peak in and around the 13.5% mark, which is a significantly better outcome than was envisaged a few months ago', he added.
A note from Goodbodys Stockbrokers said that increasing male unemployment has been responsible for the bulk of the increase in the numbers signing on up to September.
However, today's data show a decrease in the number of males on the Register, with a drop of 400 in September. This is the first time since February 2007 that the number of males signing on has not risen in the month.
