11/09/2013

Unemployment Rate Decreases

Figures released today for the period May - July 2013 show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points over the quarter to 6.9%.

More recent figures for August 2013 show that the number of unemployment benefit claimants decreased by 300 over the month.

There has been a fall of 2,700 in the claimant figures over the last seven months.

The total number of employee jobs in Northern Ireland was estimated at 698,390 for June 2013, representing an increase of 3,240 (0.5%) over the quarter, and an increase of 5,230 (0.8%) over the year.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "The decrease in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate to below that of the UK (7.7%) is welcome. This also compares favourably to the equivalent rates in the European Union (10.9%) and Republic of Ireland (13.5%). The more recent unemployment benefit figures for August continue to show encouraging signs as this is the seventh consecutive month in which there has been a fall in this measure of unemployment. This is also the longest period over which we have seen a sustained decrease in unemployment for nearly six years.

"The latest employee jobs figures are also positive, showing an increase over both the quarter and the year to June 2013. The increases were broadly based, occurring in the Services, Manufacturing and Other Industries sectors."

(CD/JP)

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