North's unemployment up for fourth month in a row
The number of people unemployed in the North has risen for the fourth month in a row, British government figures showed today.
The unemployment rate rose to 5% – 39,000. It has risen by 0.1% in each of the past four months – from 4.7% in May to the current rate, meaning an increase of 2,000 in the numbers without a job.
The North's rate is 0.3% higher than the UK average, and only lower than the London, Scotland and the North East regions. It is well below the European Union average of 8.8%.
However the figures showed that the unemployment rate was still down on the 5.3% of the same time last year.
Equally over the last three months the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits fell by 1,000, and the latest seasonally adjusted figure, 28,000 was down 1,400 on the year.
There were an estimated 744,000 people in employment in the period April - June – an increase of 0.2% over the quarter and 4.25% over the year.
Commenting on the figures, Minister of State Lord Rooker said: “The pattern of low unemployment rates in Northern Ireland has continued and growth in the labour market is confirmed by the rise in employment levels during the last year.”
He said while this undoubtedly represented good news for the economy, there was still much potential for further growth in the workforce.
The minister added: “We must continue to encourage our businesses to develop innovative products and services that can compete in new markets.
“It is by exploring and seizing opportunities in the global marketplace that local companies can create and sustain new jobs in Northern Ireland.”
