The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in August, according to the latest live register report.
The fall in the number on the live register has lowered the standardised unemployment rate in August to 4.3 per cent compared to 4.4 per cent at the start of the year.
The live register decreased by 1,685 persons in August to 175,816. This compares with a corresponding increase of 506 in August of last year.
When seasonal factors are taken into account the seasonally adjusted total fell from 169,300 in July to 166,500 this month, a decrease of 2,800.
In the year to August 2004 there was a decrease of 10,137 or 5.5 per cent in the number of people in the live register.
The live register is not designed to measure unemployment as it includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit.
Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for December to February 2004 is 85,500 persons unemployed.