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14/11/2012
Foster Plays Down Unemployment Figures
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has played down new statistics that show the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland increased in October.
The latest labour market figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) show that, while unemployment remained unchanged for the July-September quarter at 7.6%, the number of claimants in October increased by 600 from the previous month.
The Enterprise Minister said: “While these figures reflect the current economic climate, they also show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate (7.6%) is below that of the UK (7.8%), the European Union (10.5%) and the Republic of Ireland (15.0%).
She added: "Rebalancing the economy towards more productive jobs remains a key priority for my Department and Invest Northern Ireland. The recently announced Economy and Jobs initiative is also important in that it provides further support to hard pressed businesses to access the specialist expertise needed to grow output.
"We are also encouraging businesses to avail of the undoubted pool of experience available among those who have been out of work for over a year or those who are aged over 50."
Ms Foster was speaking from China, where she is currently promoting tourism on a trade mission with the First and deputy First Ministers and Agricultural Minister Michelle O’Neill.
"A number of our local companies are already developing their business in China, but there is huge potential for many more to do so in this dynamic marketplace," she said.
"Invest Northern Ireland is currently assisting many firms across a range of sectors to succeed in China and this week 35 local companies are working to show the Chinese market what they are capable of.
"I will continue to press ahead with existing Invest Northern Ireland programmes to support export-led growth."
(IT)
The latest labour market figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) show that, while unemployment remained unchanged for the July-September quarter at 7.6%, the number of claimants in October increased by 600 from the previous month.
The Enterprise Minister said: “While these figures reflect the current economic climate, they also show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate (7.6%) is below that of the UK (7.8%), the European Union (10.5%) and the Republic of Ireland (15.0%).
She added: "Rebalancing the economy towards more productive jobs remains a key priority for my Department and Invest Northern Ireland. The recently announced Economy and Jobs initiative is also important in that it provides further support to hard pressed businesses to access the specialist expertise needed to grow output.
"We are also encouraging businesses to avail of the undoubted pool of experience available among those who have been out of work for over a year or those who are aged over 50."
Ms Foster was speaking from China, where she is currently promoting tourism on a trade mission with the First and deputy First Ministers and Agricultural Minister Michelle O’Neill.
"A number of our local companies are already developing their business in China, but there is huge potential for many more to do so in this dynamic marketplace," she said.
"Invest Northern Ireland is currently assisting many firms across a range of sectors to succeed in China and this week 35 local companies are working to show the Chinese market what they are capable of.
"I will continue to press ahead with existing Invest Northern Ireland programmes to support export-led growth."
(IT)
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