Irish unemployment rate stuck at 9.7 percent again in July

DUBLIN, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) 's unemployment rate stood still at 9.7 percent for the third successive month in July although the number of people out of work rose for the first time in over 18 months, central statistics office data showed on Tuesday.

Employment has grown strongly in Ireland since the jobless rate hit a high of 15.1 percent in early 2012, but the dial has barely moved over the last five months despite other data remaining strong in Ireland's fast-recovering economy.

There were 208,900 people unemployed in Ireland on a seasonally adjusted last month, an increase of 300 from June but a decrease of 32,400 when compared to the same period a year ago when the unemployment rate stood at 11.2 percent. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Catherine Evans)