NI unemployment falls to lowest level in 26 years

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has fallen to 39,200, the lowest level in 26 years. According to the latest UK statistics, unemployment fell in the North during the last quarter by 2,000 people.

The UK Labour Force Survey figures for the quarter from April to June show unemployment at 5.9 per cent, which means there are 45,000 people out of work in the North.

But despite the fall, the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland, Sir Reg Empey, has warned that almost 1,400 job losses are yet to register in official statistics.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment described the data as encouraging, but said there were challenges ahead for the economy.

""The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Northern Ireland is now lower than four other UK regions: the north-east, Wales, London and Scotland.

"In addition, long-term unemployment, which currently stands at 19,000, has fallen by 3,000 over the past year," Sir Reg said.

But he added: "Despite such positive news we must be conscious that there are almost 1,400 redundancies, across a number of sectors, still to be recorded in official statistics.

"These will filter through over the coming months and are evidence that, although the region's economy is improving, it is as always, subject to international and local pressures."

On average unemployment has fallen in Northern Ireland by 267 people per month according to the Office for National Statistics in the UK. But youth unemployment, which covers those aged 18 to 24 years, has risen by 1,000 from one year ago. There are 11,000 young people registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland and the unemployment rate for the 18-24 age group is now 9.7 per cent.

In the last 12 months, seasonally adjusted unemployment levels in Northern Ireland have fallen over six months, risen over five months and remained unchanged over one month.

The latest Labour Force Survey shows the number claiming unemployment-related benefits in Northern Ireland fell last month by 500.

In the last year the claimant count has fallen by 1,800 in total and now stands at its lowest level since September 1975.

Overall the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the UK has also dropped to a 26-year low of 950,300.