22/07/2026
NI Redundancies Over Past Year Fall To Lowest Level Since August 2023
The Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) published its latest Labour Market Report.
HMRC PAYE data indicate 820,800 payrolled employees in June 2026, unchanged over the month and up 1.4% annually.
Median monthly pay in June 2026 was £2,480, up £21 (0.9%) on the month and £115 (4.9%) over the year. NISRA cautions that early HMRC PAYE estimates are subject to revision.
Labour Force Survey headline measures moved only slightly and none of the quarterly or annual changes were statistically significant. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March–May 2026 was 1.8%, down 0.4 percentage points over the quarter and 0.2 points over the year.
The employment rate for those aged 16–64 rose to 72.1%, up 0.8 percentage points on the quarter and 0.1 on the year. The number of people aged 16+ in work was estimated at 901,000, up 12,000 from the previous quarter and unchanged year on year. Total weekly hours worked were 29.5 million, up 3.1% on the quarter but down 2.3% compared with a year earlier.
Economic inactivity among 16–64-year-olds stood at 26.5%, down 0.5 percentage points on the quarter and up 0.1 on the year.
The seasonally adjusted claimant count was 33,800 in June 2026 (3.3% of the workforce), down 1.8% from May's revised figure, and remains 13.0% above the pre-pandemic level of March 2020.
NISRA confirmed 60 redundancies in June 2026, taking the annual total to 1,670—more than 23% lower than the previous year's 2,170 and the lowest since August 2023. Proposed redundancies over the 12 months to June 2026 were 2,860, over 5% below the 3,030 recorded a year earlier.
The full statistical bulletin and accompanying tables are available in the Labour Market Report – July 2026 on the NISRA website.
HMRC PAYE data indicate 820,800 payrolled employees in June 2026, unchanged over the month and up 1.4% annually.
Median monthly pay in June 2026 was £2,480, up £21 (0.9%) on the month and £115 (4.9%) over the year. NISRA cautions that early HMRC PAYE estimates are subject to revision.
Labour Force Survey headline measures moved only slightly and none of the quarterly or annual changes were statistically significant. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March–May 2026 was 1.8%, down 0.4 percentage points over the quarter and 0.2 points over the year.
Economic inactivity among 16–64-year-olds stood at 26.5%, down 0.5 percentage points on the quarter and up 0.1 on the year.
The seasonally adjusted claimant count was 33,800 in June 2026 (3.3% of the workforce), down 1.8% from May's revised figure, and remains 13.0% above the pre-pandemic level of March 2020.
NISRA confirmed 60 redundancies in June 2026, taking the annual total to 1,670—more than 23% lower than the previous year's 2,170 and the lowest since August 2023. Proposed redundancies over the 12 months to June 2026 were 2,860, over 5% below the 3,030 recorded a year earlier.
The full statistical bulletin and accompanying tables are available in the Labour Market Report – July 2026 on the NISRA website.
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