DUBLIN (AFP) -- Ireland's unemployment rate held steady at 4.5 percent of the workforce in December 2006, official figures showed Friday.

The number of people signing on for benefits on the state's Live Register in December dropped by 444 compared to November, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said.

This brought the total number signing on to 155,389.

The number signing on increased by 6,860 in December compared to the same month in 2005.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number signing on fell by 400 during the month.

On an annual basis the seasonally adjusted figure was up 300, the CSO added.

The Live Register is not designed to be a fully accurate measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers and casual staff entitled to benefits.