NI unemployment rate lowest in UK, figures show

The Northern Ireland unemployment rate is now the lowest in the United Kingdom, according to the latest figures from the North's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor, reports.

The seasonally-adjusted figure for the three-month period to June this year was 3.7 per cent, the lowest on record.

This figure is down from a rate of 4.2 per cent, which was recorded in both the previous quarter and in the corresponding period a year ago.

The latest Northern Ireland rate remains below the UK average of 5.4 per cent and is now the lowest of the UK regions.

It is also considerably lower than the EU rate of 7 per cent and the most recent figure for the Republic of 4.6 per cent.

The seasonally-adjusted figures also indicate that there were 780,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland during the quarter to June this year.

The new figures represent an estimated increase of 0.4 per cent in employment levels over the quarter and an increase of 1.5 per cent over the year.

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits reduced by 500. The latest seasonally-adjusted claimant-count figure stands at 23,700, down 4,000 over the year.

However, there was one downside to the statistics. The latest rate of economic inactivity - those unavailable for work through illness or for other reasons - is now at 26.7 per cent, which is slightly higher than the figure recorded in the previous quarter (26.4 per cent).

The Northern Ireland rate remains significantly higher than the UK average of 21.2 per cent and is the highest among the UK regions.

Sinn Féin West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann said that despite the good news many areas were still experiencing significantly higher rates of unemployment.

Moreover, she said, the increasing and high level of economic inactivity remained a fundamental problem.

"The reality is that many areas across the North are still experiencing much higher rates of unemployment," Ms McCann said.

"In areas such as north and west Belfast, Derry and Strabane there has been no real impact on the very high levels of unemployment, and particularly the rates of long-term unemployment in these areas, that are characterised by high levels of deprivation."