13/08/2014

NI Unemployment Drops 0.5%

Unemployment in Northern Ireland dropped 0.5% to 6.7% for the period April - June 2014, according to the latest Labour Force Survey.

The figure is down 0.5% from the rate recorded in the previous quarter (7.2%) and down 0.8% from the rate recorded one year ago (7.5%).

However the Northern Ireland unemployment rate was still above the UK average rate (6.4%), which itself fell by 0.4% over the quarter and by 1.4% over the year. The NI rate was also lower than the European Union (10.3%) and Republic of Ireland (12.0%) rates for May 2014.

51.7% of those unemployed in Northern Ireland have been unemployed for one year or more. This is down 2.5%. The unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds is 19.4%, down 0.9% over the year.

The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 52,700 in July 2014, indicating a drop of 1,400 from the previous month’s revised figure.

Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: "A further decrease in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate is welcome, as is the sustained decrease in the number of unemployment benefit claimants, which has reduced by 9,700 over the last 12 months.

"It is also important that we continue to build on recent progress by encouraging research and development, expanding existing markets and promoting inward investment.

"I would encourage local business to actively seek out these opportunities and to take advantage of Invest NI’s continued support for local businesses through their wide range of programmes that are tailored to meet individual business needs."

(IT/MH)

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