Ireland's unemployment rose to 4.9% in December from 4.8% a month earlier, data from the Central Statistics Office showed on Wednesday.

Unemployment fell to a near record low of 4.1% early last year after Ireland's economy rebounded sharply from the COVID-19 pandemic but increased gradually throughout 2023 as economic growth moderated. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)