More NI People Joining Dole Queue

There are now more people on the Dole in Northern Ireland with figures released today showing that the unemployment rate increased to reach 7.8%.

This is according to the statistics recorded over the quarter, September - November 2010, backed-up by more recent figures for December 2010.

These showed that the number of unemployment benefit claimants again increased by 300 from the previous month's revised figure.

However, on the plus side, output from the Northern Ireland production sector rose by 1.3% during the third quarter of 2010, while the overall UK increased by only 0.6%.

But, output from the local services sector fell by 0.6% during the same period, compared to a 0.5% increase in the UK.

Commenting on the figures, Stormont Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: "The latest labour market indicators reported an increase in both the unemployment rate and in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland.

"Our unemployment rate (7.8%) is now almost on a par with the UK rate (7.9%).

"However, it remains well below the European Union (9.6%) and Republic of Ireland (14.1%) rates," the DUP Minister said.

"The increased output in the production sector over the quarter and the year is a promising sign.

"Manufacturing is a key sector in Northern Ireland and there is some evidence that it is returning to growth.

"It is important that we build on our strengths and the draft budget has proposed some important steps to help the sector, including maintaining business rates at their current level," she continued.

"Despite the difficult economic conditions, opportunities still exist for those companies that can gain a competitive advantage through the provision of high quality, customer-focused products and services.

"With that in mind, I would like to encourage all our businesses to look beyond their existing markets and seek opportunities for growth throughout the global economy."

Commenting on the recently launched consultation on the new economic strategy Arlene Foster said: "The framework in the Executive's new economic strategy consultation highlights the twin goals of rebalancing the economy towards higher value added private sector activity, and the need to undertake a more immediate rebuilding phase.

"This will help address the impact of the global downturn on the labour market and the local economy.

"The figures released today highlight the importance of taking measures to increase employment opportunities," Minister Foster concluded.

Yesterday, in a timely move, the SDLP Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee Dolores Kelly launched a report aimed at improving opportunities for young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

"The number of young people out of work and education is continuing to grow at an alarming rate and currently the economic cost of youth unemployment alone in Northern Ireland is now somewhere in the region of £250m per year.

"The only way that we can tackle this problem and properly develop a strategy for NEET young people is through meaningful collaboration between Executive departments and their agencies and coordination with the community, voluntary and various education sectors which will be both more fit for purpose and more cost effective," she said.

"We must offer more flexible learning opportunities to young people with more focus on developing their employability, as indeed significant evidence presented to the Committee has suggested that a negative experience of education was a primary cause for young people disengaging from the system.

"Additionally the Careers Service should have access to all post primary pupils in Northern Ireland, including those in alternative provision and those in the colleges," she said.

"It is now up to the Department of Employment and Learning to take the lead in developing cross-departmental NEET's strategy and to capitalise upon the window of opportunity which is currently open," the MLA insisted.

The Alliance Employment and Learning Spokesperson Chris Lyttle has also called on the Minister, Ulster Unionist, Danny Kennedy, to use the recommendations of the report on young people not in education, employment or training to lead the delivery of a cross-departmental strategy for Northern Ireland.

"We know the problems that can stem from our young people of disengaging with education, training and employment.

"They include increased economic inactivity for society but, most importantly, have serious detrimental effects on individuals' health and well-being and lead to an increased risk of depression and criminal activity," he said.

"It is only right that the Committee for Employment and Learning have shown leadership by conducting a full inquiry as to how we might improve interventions to help young people to fulfil education, training and employment opportunities," he said.

(BMcC/GK)