The North's Minister for Economic Development, Mr Adam Ingram, has welcomed the news that unemployment is at its lowest level for 17 years and employment continues to rise. The figures showed "the potential that exists in Northern Ireland for a brighter and more prosperous future for everyone". Commenting on the August figures for Northern Ireland, Mr Ingram said: "The seasonally-adjusted figure for August shows unemployment fell by 1,000 over the previous month. At 59,600, which is 7.8 per cent of the workforce, it is at is lowest level since June, 1980.

He said the figures showed that in June there were 585,290 employees in employment, the highest June figure on record and a rise of 3,600 over the last quarter.

Meanwhile, British unemployment reached a 17-year low, official figures showed yesterday.

The number of people out of work in Britain and claiming benefit fell to its lowest level since August, 1980, at 1,496,600.

The unemployment rate also hit a 17-year low point to 5.3 per cent of the workforce, as 48,600 people left the claimant count.