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18/07/2007
Dodds welcomes 'low' NI unemployment rate
Northern Ireland's unemployment rate remains below the UK average and service sector output levels have increased over the last year.
Economy Minister, Nigel Dodds welcoming the figures said: "These figures highlight the strengthening of the Northern Ireland labour market over recent years. Employment levels continue to rise while unemployment levels are consistently low. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate has remained below the 5.0% mark for over two years and the current rate is the second lowest among the UK regions."
The NI seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2% for the period March to May 2007. This represents a slight fall from the rates of 4.6% and 4.5%, on the previous quarter and previous year respectively.
The NI rate remains below the UK average (5.4%) and is also considerably lower than the EU27 rate (7.1%) for April 2007.
Seasonally adjusted figures for the same period estimate that there were 786,000 people in employment in NI. The new figures represent an estimated increase of 2.4% in employment levels over the quarter and an increase of 3.4% over the year.
Mr Dodds said: "Northern Ireland companies continue to operate in fiercely competitive markets and our manufacturing sector in particular has been subject to the effects of low cost overseas competition.
"It is encouraging to note that this is the fourteenth consecutive quarter in which the Index of Services has shown an annual increase and growth is broadly in line with the UK as a whole over the last four quarters.
"Northern Ireland businesses need to stay ahead of the competition and maintain this growth by seeking ways of improving the quality of their products and services. I would urge businesses to invest in R&D and innovation, to seize business opportunities as they arise and to become more focussed on export markets."
The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits at 24,400 is a decrease of 500 from the previous month and is down 3,500 over the year.
The latest seasonally adjusted working age economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland 25.8% has fallen from a figure of 26.9% recorded for the previous quarter. However, the Northern Ireland rate remains significantly higher than the UK average 21.2% and is the highest among the UK regions.
Production output in Northern Ireland decreased by 1.4% over the quarter, representing a decrease of 2.2% on the year.
(SP/KMcA)
Economy Minister, Nigel Dodds welcoming the figures said: "These figures highlight the strengthening of the Northern Ireland labour market over recent years. Employment levels continue to rise while unemployment levels are consistently low. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate has remained below the 5.0% mark for over two years and the current rate is the second lowest among the UK regions."
The NI seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2% for the period March to May 2007. This represents a slight fall from the rates of 4.6% and 4.5%, on the previous quarter and previous year respectively.
The NI rate remains below the UK average (5.4%) and is also considerably lower than the EU27 rate (7.1%) for April 2007.
Seasonally adjusted figures for the same period estimate that there were 786,000 people in employment in NI. The new figures represent an estimated increase of 2.4% in employment levels over the quarter and an increase of 3.4% over the year.
Mr Dodds said: "Northern Ireland companies continue to operate in fiercely competitive markets and our manufacturing sector in particular has been subject to the effects of low cost overseas competition.
"It is encouraging to note that this is the fourteenth consecutive quarter in which the Index of Services has shown an annual increase and growth is broadly in line with the UK as a whole over the last four quarters.
"Northern Ireland businesses need to stay ahead of the competition and maintain this growth by seeking ways of improving the quality of their products and services. I would urge businesses to invest in R&D and innovation, to seize business opportunities as they arise and to become more focussed on export markets."
The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits at 24,400 is a decrease of 500 from the previous month and is down 3,500 over the year.
The latest seasonally adjusted working age economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland 25.8% has fallen from a figure of 26.9% recorded for the previous quarter. However, the Northern Ireland rate remains significantly higher than the UK average 21.2% and is the highest among the UK regions.
Production output in Northern Ireland decreased by 1.4% over the quarter, representing a decrease of 2.2% on the year.
(SP/KMcA)
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