Banking On Jobs

A US-based banking company's fourth expansion since it was established in Belfast in 2004 is to bring the total local workforce to 850.

News that almost 150 jobs are to be created by the US giant Citi in its Belfast base was confirmed by a company spokeswoman, Cathy Munro, who said she was confident of future growth.

"The strength of the available skills base within Northern Ireland is backed by a strong educational system and has been borne out in our recruitment efforts over the past three years."

Citi also said that it has signed a lease to occupy two of the three new Gateway Office Buildings at Titanic Quarter, adjacent to the Odyssey, to facilitate its growth plans.

NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the news proved Northern Ireland could provide the skills needed by international banking.

"Invest NI has been working with Citi for over six years and this announcement is the culmination of many months of hard work on both sides.

"Citi's continuing expansion in Northern Ireland is further evidence of the region's attractiveness to global financial services firms and it highlights the importance of Citi, and the wider sector, to our local economy," she said.

In addition to the technology and operations centres, Citi also has a legal and compliance division based in Belfast.

Meanwhile, and in counterpoint, unemployment rates have increased throughout all the border counties in the North West region of the Irish Republic.

Donegal is currently experiencing the highest increase, with over 960 more people 'signing on' there compared to just last month.

Recent figures show that nationally the number of people signing on to the Live Register since the start of 2008 has risen by almost a third, or 54,400 people.

Towns across South Donegal all saw an increase in the number of those signing on.

In Sligo almost 250 more people are unemployed compared to last month, with 185 more people currently unemployed in Sligo town.

Leitrim also demonstrated an increase, with Manorhamilton seeing a jump in figures over the past month from 426 to 467 people - an increase of over 40.

(BMcC)