NI Unemployment Drops

Northern Ireland's unemployment rate was estimated at 7.5% for the period November - January 2014, indicating a drop of 0.9% from the rate recorded one year ago.

But the NI employment rate remained above the UK average rate of 7.2%, which itself is down 0.2% over the quarter and 0.7% over the year. The NI rate was lower than the European Union (10.7%) and Republic of Ireland (12.1%) rates for December 2013.

Estimates for November - January 2014 show that 49.0% of those unemployed in Northern Ireland have been unemployed for one year or more. This is down 9.7% from one year ago.

Figures for the three months October - December 2013 show the NI unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds stood at 23.2%, compared to the UK average rate of 17.6%.

The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 57,800 in February 2014 – down 700 from the revised figure for the previous month. This is the thirteenth consecutive month in which there has been a fall.

The Northern Ireland claimant count rate stood at 6.4% in February 2014, the highest among the twelve UK regions. The UK rate was 3.5%. This is now the 47th consecutive month that NI has had the highest or second highest UK regional unemployment rate, on this measure.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "It is encouraging that the number of unemployment benefit claimants continues to fall. In addition, there are positive signs in terms of employee jobs with eight consecutive quarterly increases.

"The continuing positive signals of growth in the local economy are encouraging and there are many examples of local businesses selling to customers outside Northern Ireland which have contributed to this. My Department remains committed to supporting our local companies expand existing markets and seek overseas opportunities."

(IT)