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23/01/2013
Mixed Messages In NI Unemployment Stats
The latest statistics on unemployment in Northern Ireland show mixed messages, with the unemployment rate having declined slightly while the number of people signing on has risen.
The figures from the Labour Force Survey show the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was estimated at 7.9% for the period September - November 2012.
This was a decline on the rate recorded in the previous quarter (8.1%) but an increase on the 6.8% figure recorded a year ago.
The Northern Ireland unemployment rate is now above the UK average rate of 7.7% and lower than the European Union’s figure of 10.7%.
The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 65,200 in December 2012, showing an increase of 500 (0.8%) on the previous month.
The Northern Ireland claimant count rate of 7.1% in December 2012 was the second highest among the twelve UK regions.
Over the year, the Northern Ireland claimant count has increased by 7.4% (4,500), compared to a decrease of 2.5% in the UK.
The annual increase in Northern Ireland was the second highest among the UK regions.
Estimates for the period September - November 2012 show there were 804,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland.
This estimate increased by 9,000 over the quarter and by 1,000 over the year.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "Whilst the official measure of unemployment in Northern Ireland decreased over the quarter, it is disappointing that the number of people on the claimant count has continued to increase."
But the Minister placed emphasis on the services sector as a means to re-boost the Northern Irish economy.
"The Executive has placed export-led growth at the forefront of our economic ambitions," she said.
"This also applies to businesses in the service sector where there is the opportunity to sell our skills and expertise overseas. I would encourage all businesses to utilise the support that is available from the existing InvestNI programmes in order to aid export-led growth. Local companies are already making great strides in emerging markets like China and India and I would encourage others to follow their example."
(IT/GK)
The figures from the Labour Force Survey show the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was estimated at 7.9% for the period September - November 2012.
This was a decline on the rate recorded in the previous quarter (8.1%) but an increase on the 6.8% figure recorded a year ago.
The Northern Ireland unemployment rate is now above the UK average rate of 7.7% and lower than the European Union’s figure of 10.7%.
The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 65,200 in December 2012, showing an increase of 500 (0.8%) on the previous month.
The Northern Ireland claimant count rate of 7.1% in December 2012 was the second highest among the twelve UK regions.
Over the year, the Northern Ireland claimant count has increased by 7.4% (4,500), compared to a decrease of 2.5% in the UK.
The annual increase in Northern Ireland was the second highest among the UK regions.
Estimates for the period September - November 2012 show there were 804,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland.
This estimate increased by 9,000 over the quarter and by 1,000 over the year.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "Whilst the official measure of unemployment in Northern Ireland decreased over the quarter, it is disappointing that the number of people on the claimant count has continued to increase."
But the Minister placed emphasis on the services sector as a means to re-boost the Northern Irish economy.
"The Executive has placed export-led growth at the forefront of our economic ambitions," she said.
"This also applies to businesses in the service sector where there is the opportunity to sell our skills and expertise overseas. I would encourage all businesses to utilise the support that is available from the existing InvestNI programmes in order to aid export-led growth. Local companies are already making great strides in emerging markets like China and India and I would encourage others to follow their example."
(IT/GK)
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