Minor increase in the Province's jobless total
The number of people out of work in Northern Ireland rose slightly in February.
The number claiming jobseeker’s allowance was 55,700, a rise of 100 on the previous month. Northern Ireland was the only region of the UK which recorded such a rise over the month.
The figures also reveal that 146 people were made redundant in February.
Figures for the final quarter of 2009 showed a fall of 2,890 in the number of employee jobs in Northern Ireland, with the construction and service sectors accounting for the majority of the fall.
The Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said while the figures were “disappointing”, the decrease in the last quarter was less marked than in earlier periods.
“Growing the Northern Ireland economy remains the number one priority for the Executive and I remain committed to strengthening the conditions needed for growth.
“Businesses have already shown considerable flexibility in response to the recession and today's difficult trading conditions provide yet more evidence of the need to further improve business competitiveness.
“If companies continue to develop greater market awareness and product innovation, they will be able to seize the opportunities that the global upturn will undoubtedly bring. This will ultimately ensure future employment opportunities for the people of Northern Ireland,” said the Minister.
The other method of measuring unemployment is the Labour Force Survey, which takes a representative sample by asking households about their status.
It points to the fact that the Northern Ireland rate of unemployment between November and January was 6.3 per cent, down 0.2 per cent from the previous quarter, but up from 5.9 per cent for the previous year.
The length of the economic crisis and resulting job losses has particularly impacted countries across Europe and the survey is used to give a comparative rate across the European Union because methods of claiming differ between member nations.
It highlights that Northern Ireland is below the rate in the Irish Republic, 13.3 per cent, and the wider European Union, 9.6 per cent.
The Labour Force Survey also suggests that the current rate of economic inactivity in Northern Ireland is 28 per cent.
Northern Ireland’s rate of economic inactivity, defined by those who are not in employment but are not actively seeking jobs, is the highest in the UK, seven per cent more than the nationwide average.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
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