Rise in unemployment in North
Unemployment in the North showed another upward leap today and the the number of people claiming benefits is now over double what it was 15 months ago.
The number of people unemployed was 49,000 for the three-month period to the end of February, up 3,000 over the quarter and 16,000 over the year.
The rate of unemployment has now hit 6.2% - 0.5% up on the quarter and 2.1% up on a year ago.
The more recent benefits claimant count increased by 1,900 over the month to May and now stands at 48,000 - 5.5% of the workforce and an increase of 92.8% over the year and more than double the 23,500 of February 2008.
On the employment front, the number of jobs filled dropped to 715,050 in March, down 6,220 over the quarter and 19,030 on the year.
The drop continued to be driven by falls in employment in the services sector, down another 2,770, manufacturing, down 1,790 and construction, down 1,520.
If there was any comfort at all to be taken from the figures it was that the increase in the claimant count was the smallest since before last Christmas.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "While unfortunately these figures come as no surprise, it is still very disappointing to note that there have been further falls in employment and increased unemployment in Northern Ireland."
She added: "Global markets are continuing to adjust to the impact of the current downturn and we are still experiencing its negative effects.
"That said, our unemployment rate (6.2%) still compares favourably to the UK (7.2%) and European Union (8.3%) averages, though this will be no consolation to those currently out of work."
