Unemployment falls to lowest level on record

Unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen to a record low, with the unemployment rate now the lowest among the UK regions.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was estimated at 3.7% for the period April - June 2007, the lowest rate on record. This figure is down from a rate of 4.2%, which was recorded in both the previous quarter and in the same period one year ago. The latest Northern Ireland rate remains below the UK average (5.4%) and is now the lowest of the UK regions. It is also considerably lower than the EU27 rate (7.0%) for May 2007.

Seasonally adjusted figures for the period April - June 2007 also indicate that there were 780,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland. The new figures represent an estimated increase of 0.4% in employment levels over the quarter and an increase of 1.5% over the year.

During the last month, the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits decreased by 500. The latest seasonally adjusted claimant count figure stands at 23,700, down 4,000 over the year.

The latest seasonally adjusted working age economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland (26.7%) has risen slightly from the figure recorded in the previous quarter (26.4%). The Northern Ireland rate remains significantly higher than the UK average (21.2%) and is the highest among the UK regions.

Notes to Editors:

1. Media enquiries should be directed to the DETI Press Office on telephone 028 9052 9604.
2. General information can be obtained from Paul McKillen, DETI Statistics Research Branch, on Tel: 028 9052 9585.
3. The Labour Force Survey figures quoted are estimates and are subject to sampling error. This means that the exact figure is likely to be contained in a range surrounding the estimate quoted.
4. Details of the sampling errors, together with more detailed statistical information and definitions of the methodology used, can be found in the Labour Market Report (LMR), .
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