20 per cent of the workforce is now on benefits because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

That's according to figures obtained by the Irish Independent, which shows an unequal picture across the country.

Roscommon had one of the lowest rates in the country.

These figures show those counties where a large portion of the workers are employed in tourism and retail were hit harder than those where manufacturing is prominent.

More than 45 per cent of workers in Kerry were on State benefits during the last lockdown.

This was followed by Dublin, Louth, Wexford and Carlow which had more than 40 per cent of their labour force on income supports in November.

The counties with the lowest level of workers on supports were Roscommon, Laois, Meath, Kilkenny , Offaly and Cork with approximately 30 per cent reliant on benefits.

20 per cent of the workforce was unemployed during November - Kerry had the highest unemployment rate and Kilkenny the lowest.