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17/09/2009
Dole Queue To Grow Even Further
As NI is being warned to be prepared for yet more job losses, local politicians have been hitting out over this week's news on the lengthening dole queue.
NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster (pictured) was speaking as statistics showed another 1,600 people joined the dole queue last month, bringing the Province-wide total to 52,700 - near double last years.
But while the rate of job losses is the second lowest in the UK, where the average is 7.9%, and lower than the Republic of Ireland (12.2%) and Europe as a whole (8.9%), Government Ministers and senior businesses warned against a swift turnaround in the downward trend.
The more recent claimant count measure of unemployment stood at 52,700 in August 2009, with the number of claimants having increased by 1,600 over the month.
The SDLP spokesperson Pat Ramsey has said the latest unemployment figures are distressing and that the Stormont Executive should be doing more to help businesses from shedding jobs here.
"Although the figures are lower than the European average and lower than other neighbouring areas, the amount of job losses over the past year has been the number one concern for most people.
"We cannot allow this trend to continue. We also have an alarming rise in young people unemployed, with an increase of 6.5% up to 18%," he said, noting that, in the North West the situation is worse.
"By proportion," he continued, "with as many out of work there as in Belfast, it shows the levels we are up against.
"The Executive could intervene when companies get into trouble as governments in Scotland and elsewhere are doing.
"With strong leadership our departments could get together to protect the jobs we have and promote new ones more effectively, starting with the construction industry," he said.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, the East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newtom has also reacted to the revelation that unemployment has doubled in the past year.
"East Belfast has been hit hard by the rise in unemployment and I fear that there may well be still cases to come.
"It is when the larger employees make big cuts in the workforce that make media headlines but we should remember the large number of small businesses who make staff redundant, individually small by comparison but collectively every bit as damaging, and within the context of a small business, to lose one member of staff represents a significant dent in its workforce," he said.
"It is little comfort to those in east Belfast who have lost their jobs that at least 'we're not as bad off as other parts'.
"This part of Belfast with its proud reputation as the centre of industry and innovation is now paying a heavy price for problems not of its making and this cannot be allowed to become routine," the Stormont Junior Minister continued.
"There is a wealth of talent in danger of becoming surplus to requirements and we must ensure that all possible options are exhausted to prevent this from happening."
See: NI Dole Queue Lengthens
(BMcC/GK)
NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster (pictured) was speaking as statistics showed another 1,600 people joined the dole queue last month, bringing the Province-wide total to 52,700 - near double last years.
But while the rate of job losses is the second lowest in the UK, where the average is 7.9%, and lower than the Republic of Ireland (12.2%) and Europe as a whole (8.9%), Government Ministers and senior businesses warned against a swift turnaround in the downward trend.
The more recent claimant count measure of unemployment stood at 52,700 in August 2009, with the number of claimants having increased by 1,600 over the month.
The SDLP spokesperson Pat Ramsey has said the latest unemployment figures are distressing and that the Stormont Executive should be doing more to help businesses from shedding jobs here.
"Although the figures are lower than the European average and lower than other neighbouring areas, the amount of job losses over the past year has been the number one concern for most people.
"We cannot allow this trend to continue. We also have an alarming rise in young people unemployed, with an increase of 6.5% up to 18%," he said, noting that, in the North West the situation is worse.
"By proportion," he continued, "with as many out of work there as in Belfast, it shows the levels we are up against.
"The Executive could intervene when companies get into trouble as governments in Scotland and elsewhere are doing.
"With strong leadership our departments could get together to protect the jobs we have and promote new ones more effectively, starting with the construction industry," he said.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, the East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newtom has also reacted to the revelation that unemployment has doubled in the past year.
"East Belfast has been hit hard by the rise in unemployment and I fear that there may well be still cases to come.
"It is when the larger employees make big cuts in the workforce that make media headlines but we should remember the large number of small businesses who make staff redundant, individually small by comparison but collectively every bit as damaging, and within the context of a small business, to lose one member of staff represents a significant dent in its workforce," he said.
"It is little comfort to those in east Belfast who have lost their jobs that at least 'we're not as bad off as other parts'.
"This part of Belfast with its proud reputation as the centre of industry and innovation is now paying a heavy price for problems not of its making and this cannot be allowed to become routine," the Stormont Junior Minister continued.
"There is a wealth of talent in danger of becoming surplus to requirements and we must ensure that all possible options are exhausted to prevent this from happening."
See: NI Dole Queue Lengthens
(BMcC/GK)
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