18/05/2005

Province continues to experience low levels of unemployment

The latest labour market figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment show that Northern Ireland is continuing to experience low levels of unemployment.

Equal to the UK average, the current seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.7% for the period January to March 2005 has risen slightly from 4.5% in the previous quarter, but is down from a rate of 5.2% for the same period last year.

According to the figures released today, over the last three months, the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits has fallen by 100. The latest seasonally adjusted claimant count figure stands at 28,900, down 2,900 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted figures also estimate that there were 743,000 people in employment in the period January to March 2005, down 0.2% from the previous quarter, but up 3.1% over the year.

Commenting on the figures, Enterprise Minister, Angela Smith, said: “It is encouraging to see the continuing low levels of unemployment in Northern Ireland, as a whole combined with increases in employment levels over the year."

As it stands, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate (4.7%) is lower than four other UK regions: London (6.7%), Scotland (5.5%), the North East (5.5%) and the North West (4.8%).

(SP)

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

17 August 2005
NI unemployment falls to 5%
Latest labour market figures has shown that employment figures have risen in Northern Ireland over the past year, while the number of unemployed has fallen. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5% for the period April – June 2005 was up from 4.7% in the previous quarter, but down from a rate of 5.3% for the same period last year.
12 June 2008
Good News On NI Jobs
The latest figures show that the number of jobs in Northern Ireland rose to the highest figure on record in March 2008. The unemployment rate has decreased over the quarter (February-April 2008) and remains below the UK average.
20 July 2016
Drop In Number Of People Claiming Unemployment Benefits
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.
19 January 2005
NI employment levels on the increase
The latest labour market figures, released today, have shown an increase in employment levels during the last year. Seasonally adjusted figures for the period September – November 2004 estimate that there were 734,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland, an increase of 13,000 over the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.
17 February 2016
Unemployment Decreases In Last Quarter Of 2015
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.