15/02/2017

Unemployment Continues To Fall

Unemployment in Northern Ireland continues to fall, but at a slower rate, according to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.

The latest Labour Market Statistics show a 0.3% fall in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the period October – December 2016 compared to the previous quarter, and 0.5% over the year.

The figures show that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland, 5.3%, is above the UK average of 4.8%, but below the European Union rate of 8.3% for October 2016 and Republic of Ireland rate, 7.2%, for December 2016.

In the same quarter, there was a 0.1% increase in the employment rate.

The more recent seasonally adjusted number of people claiming unemployment related benefits stood at 31,600 – 3.5% of the workforce – in January 2017, representing a decrease of 1,000 from the previous month's revised figure. The number of people leaving the register in the last 12-month period has also slowed, from 10,000 to January 2016 to 6,500 in the recent year to January 2017.

In a statement, the authors said: "The post-referendum picture is still emerging and will continue to do so over the coming quarters and years. It is also not possible to separate out the specific impact of the referendum in this quarter from pre-existing trends. However, the latest figures show there has been little change in unemployment rates since the EU referendum."

(MH/JP)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 March 2016
Unemployment Rate Unchanged Over Last 12 Months
The latest unemployment rate in Northern Ireland is 6%, a decrease of 0.1% over the quarter, according to the latest Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey.
16 May 2016
'Explore Enterprise' With The Prince's Trust
Unemployed people aged between 18 and 30 who would like to start a business are being invited to 'explore enterprise with the Prince's Trust'.
11 September 2013
Unemployment Rate Decreases
Figures released today for the period May - July 2013 show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points over the quarter to 6.9%. More recent figures for August 2013 show that the number of unemployment benefit claimants decreased by 300 over the month.
15 August 2013
Further Decrease In Unemployment Rate
Figures released for the period April - July 2013 show that the Northern Ireland unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points over the quarter to 7.5%. More recent figures for July 2013 show that the number of unemployment benefit claimants decreased by 500 over the month.
13 July 2017
Latest Figures Show Unemployment Rate Remains High
The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits in June fell by 600 on the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). The Labour Force Survey figures, published on Wednesday 12 July, also show however that the unemployment rate of 5.