NI unemployment falls to 5%

Latest labour market figures has shown that employment figures have risen in Northern Ireland over the past year, while the number of unemployed has fallen.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5% for the period April – June 2005 was up from 4.7% in the previous quarter, but down from a rate of 5.3% for the same period last year.

Over the last three months, the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits fell by 1,000. The latest seasonally adjusted claimant count figure stands at 28,000, down 1,400 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted figures also estimate that there were 744,000 people in employment in the period April – June 2005, an increase of 0.2% over the quarter and 4.2% over the year.

Commenting on the figures, Minister of State, Jeff Rooker said: "The pattern of low unemployment rates in Northern Ireland has continued and growth in the labour market is confirmed by the rise in employment levels during the last year. While this undoubtedly represents good news for the economy, there is still much potential for further growth in the workforce.

“We must continue to encourage our businesses to develop innovative products and services that can compete in new markets. It is by exploring and seizing opportunities in the global marketplace that local companies can create and sustain new jobs for Northern Ireland.”

As it stands, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate (5%) is 0.3 percentage points higher than the UK average (4.7%), but is lower than the rates for three UK regions; London (7.1%), the North East (6.7%) and Scotland (5.5%). It is also considerably lower than the EU25 average (8.8%) for May 2005.

(MB/SP)