FAS National Skills bulletin published in July 2011 showed that the Irish job market deteriorated in 2010. Between 2009 and 2010 the Irish labour force contracted by 48,000 to 2.14 million, Irish jobs declined by 80,000 to 1.85 million, and unemployment in Ireland increased by 33,000 to 292,000. The jobless rate increased by 1.8 % to 13.6%, the number of lay-offs in Ireland declined from the peak reached in 2009.With the exception of education, health, transport and wholesale & retail, between quarter 4 2009 and quarter 4 2010, jobs in Ireland declined in all sectors.The greatest absolute and relative job declines were noted in the building construction sector with a 20% decline, with all other sectors in decline recording net losses below 10%. Jobs in the Irish manufacturing sector as a whole contracted between the last quarter of 2009 and the last quarter of 2010, although positions in pharmaceuticals and chemical industries increased.Between the last quarter of 2009 and the last quarter 4 2010, the number in work declined in all regions. Jobless rates increased in all regions, with unemployment highest in the South-East of Ireland (18.1%) and lowest in Dublin and the mid-East (12.7%).