Little change in latest unemployment figures

Seasonally adjusted statistics from the Labour Force Survey, for the period for August to October 2001, have revealed marginal increases in the number of people currently unemployed.

Commenting further on the figures, Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, who is currently on a trade and investment mission in North America, said: “The figures show that there are now 46,000 people unemployed, or six per cent of the Northern Ireland working population, according to the International Labour Organisation Definition.

“This represents a rise of 0.2 percentage points on the seasonally adjusted rate recorded for the same period last year and a rise of 0.1 percentage points from the last quarter.

“The fact that these changes are relatively marginal must, however, be viewed in light of several redundancies notices which we have received from companies and which may be recorded in future statistics.

“As part of my programme in the United States, I am currently meeting with companies which have indicated possible redundancies, including Bombardier and Nortel Networks. DETI and its supporting agencies have and are doing all in their power to reduce the potential implications of these companies’ difficulties on their Northern Ireland workforce."

Seasonally adjusted figures relating to job seekers allowance claimants have decreased by 200. There are currently 38,300 JSA claimants, representing 4.9 per cent of the workforce, which is at its lowest level since September 1975.

Statistical information released also included details of the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), which measures the number of employee jobs in Northern Ireland.

Sir Reg Empey added: “The survey recorded 643,620 employee jobs, the highest September figure on record. However, over the quarter employee jobs declined with 300 jobs lost since June 2001.

“Most concerning are decreases in the manufacturing sector which stands at just under 100,000 employee jobs for the first time since March 1994. Most of the fall can be attributed to recent job losses in the telecommunications and textile sectors, which have jointly fallen by 2,000 over the quarter. However, the service sector in Northern Ireland continues to increase and currently stands at 489,570, an increase of 1,520 on last quarter.” (MB)