Unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen by 10,000, according to labour market statistics. The jobless total is now 47,000, or 6.4 per cent of the workforce.
"These figures are very positive," said the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey. However, Sinn Fein economic spokesperson, Dr Dara O'Hagan MLA, said figures were misleading. "Within these figures the area by area breakdown shows that Strabane, Moyle and Derry are still economic blackspots," she said.