The number of people signing on the Live Register fell slightly in June, according to figures released by the Central Statistics office.
The seasonally adjusted total decreased from 156,800 in May to 156,700 in June, a fall of 100. This compares with an increase of 2,600 in May.
In the year to June 2005, there was an unadjusted decrease of 9,652 (-5.7 per cent). This compares with an unadjusted decrease of 11,146 (-6.9 per cent) in the year to May 2005.
The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers and those who work up to three days a week, seasonal and casual workers, and those 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 2005, is 84,700 persons unemployed.