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15/03/2012
'Disguised' Unemployment Figures Slammed
Following news that unemployment figures in Northern Ireland are slightly down on last quarter Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy has slammed the report claiming that no amount of 'massaging' will hide the true figures.
Yesterday a Labour Force Survey reported that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland had fallen to 6.5% - a fall of 0.4% - from the previous quarter.
Mr Murphy, the Economy Spokesperson for Sinn Fein, has said however that no amount of massaging of figures will disguise the real numbers of unemployed.
He said: "The facts are that the number of employee jobs available fell by over 3000 since December 2011, claimaints increased by 200 and the percentage of long term unemployed increased. While it is encouraging that certain areas of manufacturing continues to grow the retail sector and indigenous SME's continue to experience closures and job losses."
"The Economic Strategy, launched yesterday aims to promote over 25,000 new jobs and I welcome this initiative. I believe however, that a focus of any investment that accompanies this job promotion should be specifically targeted at the indigenous SME sector in areas of high deprivation and unemployment. While the £16million equity fund for Co-investment Fund is a welcome development, what is required is for pressure to be brought to bear on the Banks to relax their restrictive lending conditions so that SME's can plan for future investment and expansion with confidence."
(LB/GK)
Yesterday a Labour Force Survey reported that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland had fallen to 6.5% - a fall of 0.4% - from the previous quarter.
Mr Murphy, the Economy Spokesperson for Sinn Fein, has said however that no amount of massaging of figures will disguise the real numbers of unemployed.
He said: "The facts are that the number of employee jobs available fell by over 3000 since December 2011, claimaints increased by 200 and the percentage of long term unemployed increased. While it is encouraging that certain areas of manufacturing continues to grow the retail sector and indigenous SME's continue to experience closures and job losses."
"The Economic Strategy, launched yesterday aims to promote over 25,000 new jobs and I welcome this initiative. I believe however, that a focus of any investment that accompanies this job promotion should be specifically targeted at the indigenous SME sector in areas of high deprivation and unemployment. While the £16million equity fund for Co-investment Fund is a welcome development, what is required is for pressure to be brought to bear on the Banks to relax their restrictive lending conditions so that SME's can plan for future investment and expansion with confidence."
(LB/GK)
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The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has dropped, according to new figures. The unemployment rate was 5.9% between March and May this year, a decrease of 0.4% over the year. The latest Labour Force Survey revealed in June the number of unemployment claimants stood at 36,700, a decrease of 600 over the month.
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New figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, have revealed a "marginal decrease" in unemployment for the period October – December, 2015. Key findings of the Labour Market Report, published today, include: • Over the quarter and the year, the employment rate increased and the economic inactivity rate decreased.
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Drop In Number Of People Claiming Unemployment Benefits
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has dropped to 38,700, a decrease of 500 over the month. New figures released for the period September to November 2015 show that the Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey unemployment rate was 5.9%, a drop of 0.1% over the quarter.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Staying cold. Any freezing fog that has formed overnight will slowly thin and disperse during the morning. Otherwise dry and bright much of the day with perhaps the odd coastal shower in the north and east. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Dry at first with cloud thickening from the south through the evening. The odd shower, wintry over high ground, over northern counties, becoming more persistent rain over Down and Antrim. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
