Foster Admits Unemployment Is 'Challenging'

Unemployment remains on an upward trend, according to new statistics just issued, with the Stormont Minister responsible admitting the issue is a 'challenge'.

The figures released today for the period April - June 2011 show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate increased over the quarter to 7.3%.

However, more recent figures for July 2011 show that the number of unemployment benefit claimants increased again by 600 from the previous month's revised figure.

Commenting on the figures, NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "The latest labour market indicators recorded a rise in unemployment levels throughout the UK.

"Given the level of uncertainty about the state of the global economy, the road to economic recovery was always going to be tough and the latest rise in unemployment highlights the challenge that we continue to face.

"However, it should be noted that the latest Northern Ireland unemployment rate remained below both the UK and European averages," she said, positively.

DUP Minister Arlene Foster added: "Our long-term goal has always been to develop a strong and vibrant private sector that can compete internationally and which can provide employment opportunities for the people of Northern Ireland.

"This aim remains unchanged throughout the global economic downturn," she insisted this morning.

"Our focus remains on providing whatever support and assistance we can to help stimulate private sector growth and create jobs in Northern Ireland.

"To that end, we will continue to encourage local businesses to pursue export opportunities where they exist and to develop the innovative products and services that will allow their business to flourish."

Specifically, today's data recorded that NI's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, as measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS), was estimated at 7.3% for the period April - June 2011. This represented an increase from the rate of 7.2% in the previous quarter and an increase from the rate of 6.7% recorded in the same period last year.

The Northern Ireland unemployment rate remained below the UK average rate (7.9%) and was also lower than the European Union (9.3%) and Republic of Ireland (14.0%) rates for May 2011.

Long-term unemployment remains an issue, with unadjusted estimates for March - May 2011 showing that 48.1% of those unemployed in Northern Ireland have been unemployed for one year or more.

They also record the unemployment rate for 18 to 24-year-olds at 17.0%.

In addition, the seasonally adjusted number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 60,400 in July 2011 – up 600 (1.0%) from the previous month.

The latest monthly increase in Northern Ireland (1.0%) was the lowest among the UK regions and compared to a monthly rise of 2.4% in the UK as a whole.

However, over the year, the Northern Ireland claimant count has increased by 6.7% (3,800), which was the same as the percentage increase in the UK (also 6.7%).

Seasonally adjusted estimates for the period April - June 2011 showed that there were 803,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland. This estimate was up 2.3% on the previous quarter and up 3.3% over the year.

Meanwhile, estimates can provide information on the reason for many being listed as in 'economic inactivity'.

In April - June 2011 an estimated 30% of the economically inactive of working age in Northern Ireland were sick/disabled, 29% were students, 22% were looking after the family/home, 12% were retired and 6% were 'other' reason.

On redundancies, some 195 confirmed redundancies were notified in July 2011, compared to 230 in June 2011 and 176 in July 2010. There has been a 35% decrease in the number of confirmed redundancies over the last year to 31 July 2011 - 1,957 compared to 3,034 in the previous year.

(BMcC)