Tánaiste Joan Burton says it is "a milestone day" after the unemployment rate fell below 9%.

It has not been that low since December 2008.

The new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also show the rate of youth unemployment has fallen below 20% for the first time since the economic crash.

8.9% of people were unemployed in October 2015 according to the figures.

The rate of youth unemployment has also fallen below 20% for the first time since the economic crash.

56,000 more people were employed in the third quarter of this year when compared with the same time in 2014.

Ms Burton says it is a positive development.

And as the youth unemployment rate falls below 20%, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton says Irish emigrants can bring important skills back to Ireland.