Latest figures from the CSO indicate there were 2,232,203 in the labour force in April 2011, an increase of 123,000 since 2006.
Females accounted for 88% of the increase.
Overall female participation in the labour force has risen to 54.6% from 52.8% since the 2006 census, while the male participation rate has fallen from 72% to 69%
The CSO figures indicate the area of the country with the highest labour market participation is Fingal, while the lowest rates are in Limerick and Cork cities.
The 2011 unemployment rate at 19% represents an increase of 136% since 2006.
The unemployment rate is highest in Limerick city at 28.6% while Dún Laoghaire Rathdown has the lowest rate at 11.2%.
However, many small unemployment blackspots in Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Waterford cities and in county Donegal have rates of 39% unemployment.
The overall fall in employment of 123,000 is calculated on a fall of 153,000 in male employment and a rise of 30,000 in female employment.
The increase in male unemployment can be partly explained by the huge decline in construction employment, down 123,000 since 2006.
There was also an employment decline of 50,000 in manufacturing, while the numbers working in agriculture increased for the first time since 1926, rising by nearly 5,000 people.
This sector only accounts for 5% of total employment, however, while the service sector accounts for 78%.
