Figures out this week from the Labour Force Survey show that long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland has continued to fall.

Figures published on Wednesday October 17 for the period June – August 2001 indicate that there are 46,000 people unemployed, approximately 6.0 per cent of the workforce, according to the International Labour Organisation definition.

In addition the latest figures for job seekers allowance claimants show a fall of 400 to 38,500 over the month to September 2001. This is the lowest level since September 1975.

However, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Sir Reg Empey warned that Northern Ireland’s local economy is facing “challenging times.”

He said: “The statistics released this morning do not incorporate the dramatic change in the world economy triggered by the tragic events on 11 September. There are now many job losses, most significant of which are the 2,000 proposed redundancies at Bombardier Aerospace, which we had not anticipated.

“This, added to the other job losses which are already in the pipeline, indicate that the Northern Ireland economy faces a difficult future.

“Clearly there are challenging times ahead, however what these statistics do indicate is that the Northern Ireland economy, as evidenced by low recorded levels of unemployment, was in reasonably good shape before events in the United States. It is therefore imperative that our business community rises to this challenge and does not stagnate in response to global pressures.” (AMcE)