There are more jobs being lost in Northern Ireland with levels of unemployment continuing to rise.

Figures released today, for the period February to April 2010, recorded a rise in the unemployment rate to 6.9%.

More recent figures for May 2010 also showed an increase of 100 over the month in the number of claimants.

However, the number of claimants in Northern Ireland (55,500) was the same as the level reported in January 2010.

Other figures released today showed that the number of employee jobs fell by 1,280, between December 2009 and March 2010. This was the smallest decline in the Northern Ireland jobs series since the start of the economic downturn.

Commenting on the figures, NI Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: "It is disappointing to note a further rise in the unemployment rate and a fall in jobs during the first quarter of 2010.

"However, there are signs that the rate of decline in jobs is beginning to slow," she said.

"The latest fall was the smallest since the jobs series peaked in June 2008. In addition, the number of unemployed claimants has remained relatively constant since the start of the year.

"However, I am conscious that the number of claimants has been decreasing in other regions of the UK and that the annual increase in Northern Ireland claimants is proportionately the highest of the UK regions.

"This remains a difficult time for people in NI, as it will take some time before any economic recovery can be translated into sustained jobs growth and employment opportunities," the Minister continued.

"I am also conscious that, as we await the impact of likely budget cuts at the UK level, the need to grow a vibrant private sector in Northern Ireland is more pressing than ever.

"I will therefore continue to work with the business community and all the relevant stakeholders in the Northern Ireland economy to create the conditions needed for growth.

"We aim to foster a climate whereby Northern Ireland companies are more proactive in pursuing market opportunities and focussed on business improvement.

"I am fully confident that Northern Ireland businesses have the ability to respond positively to this challenge," she said.

Seasonal adjusted estimates from the Quarterly Employment Survey showed that there were 700,210 employee jobs in March 2010.

This represented an estimated net decrease of 1,280 over the quarter and a fall of 13,260 over the year.

The decrease over the quarter was driven by falls in the construction sector (-460) and Service sector (-660) jobs.

This was the seventh successive quarterly decrease in the seasonally adjusted employee jobs series. However, this was the smallest decline in employee jobs since the series peaked in June 2008 and was only 27% of the average quarterly decrease since the downturn started.

The Department was notified of 98 confirmed redundancies which took place in May 2010.

This compared to 308 in April 2010 and 397 in May 2009. There has been a 30% decrease in the number of confirmed redundancies over the last year to 31st May 2010 – 3,146 compared to 4,511 in the previous year.

Further information on the latest labour market figures is available in the Labour Market Statistical Press Release at: www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/stats-labour-market.htm

(BMcC/GK)