The number of people in employment increased by 3.2% in the year to the end of September.
The latest Quarterly National Household Survey from the Central Statistics Office shows 58,000 people secured jobs during the period.
It represents the fourth successive quarter recording an annual rise, and the largest increase since the end of 2007.
The number of people unemployed fell by 12.8% or 41,700 in the year to the end of the third quarter of 2013 to 282,900.
It means the rate of unemployment has fallen from 13.6% to 12.8%, the lowest level since 2009.
Brian Ring from the CSO says the total number of people in employment in Ireland is now just under one point nine million:KBC Bank Chief Economist Austin Hughes is giving a cautious welcome to the figures:Our News Correspondent Fergal O'Brien was at the CSO press conference in Government Buildings:The Social Protection Minister Joan Burton says more than 1,000 people a week are returning to work, in a further sign of economic recovery:
