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Latest labour market figures released

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Three National Statistics press releases, detailing the latest economic and labour market figures have been published today by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).

The labour market press release can be accessed via http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/stats-labour-market.htm

The Index of Services press release can be accessed via http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/stats-surveys/stats-ios.htm

The Index of Production press release can be accessed via http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/stats-surveys/stats-index-of-production.htm

Main Results:

Labour Force Survey – Unemployment Rate

  • The Northern Ireland seasonally adjusted unemployment rate2, as measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS), was estimated at 6.8% for the period September - November 2009. This represented a decrease from the rate of 7.1% recorded in the previous quarter, but was up from the rate of 4.3% recorded in the same period one year ago. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate was below the UK average (7.8%) and was the fourth lowest rate among the UK regions. It also remained lower than the European Union (9.3%) and Republic of Ireland (12.8%) rates for October 2009.

Claimant Count Unemployment

  • The seasonally adjusted number of people claiming unemployment related benefits3 stood at 54,500 (6.3% of the workforce) in December 2009 – an increase of 500 (0.9%) over the month. This increase was larger than the previous monthly increase of 200, but was smaller than the average monthly increase of 1,500 during 2009. Nevertheless, Northern Ireland was one of only two UK regions to record an increase in claimant levels in December 2009 - the UK as a whole recorded a decrease of 0.9%. Over the year, the Northern Ireland claimant count has increased by 48.5% (17,800). The equivalent increase in the UK was 36.6%, with the Northern Ireland annual increase ranking highest of the UK regions.

Labour Force Survey – Employment

  • Seasonally adjusted estimates for the period September - November 2009 showed that there were 764,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland. This estimate was up 2.3% from the previous quarter, but was down 2.1% over the year.

Labour Force Survey – Economic Inactivity

  • The seasonally adjusted number of working age persons that were economically inactive decreased by an estimated 14,000 over the quarter and the corresponding working age economic inactivity rate decreased to 27.8% (in September-November 2009). However, the Northern Ireland inactivity rate (27.8%) remained considerably higher than the UK average rate (21.2%) and was the highest of the UK regions.

Redundancies

The Department was notified of 343 confirmed redundancies6-8 which took place in December 2009. This compared to 379 in November 2009 and 451 in December 2008. There has been a 63% increase in the number of confirmed redundancies over the last year to 30th December 2009 – 4,541 compared to 2,782 in the previous year.

Index of Production

  • Provisional seasonally adjusted estimates from the Index of Production (IOP) for the third quarter of 2009 showed that output from the production industries increased slightly over the quarter (+0.3%), but fell over the year (-11.9%). This is the first quarter to report stability since Q2 2008. The UK reported falls in production output of 0.9% over the quarter and 10.8% over the year.
  • Over the quarter the index for the following broad subsector industries reported increases; Other Manufacturing (6.1%), Basic Metals & Fabricated Metal Products (12.7%), Chemical & Chemical Products (12.9%) and Leather, Textiles & Textile Products (1.5%). Over the same period the following industries recorded decreases; Food, Drink & Tobacco (-2.5%) and Engineering & Allied Industries (-6.0%).

Index of Services

  • Provisional results from the Index of Services for the third quarter of 2009 show that output levels fell over the quarter by 0.3% and decreased by 4.1% compared to the same quarter one year earlier. The UK reported falls in service sector output of 0.3% over the quarter and 4.0% over the year.
  • Service sector output in Northern Ireland has fallen in eight of the last nine quarters. Northern Ireland service sector output decreased by 4.8% over the last four quarters when compared to the previous four quarters (compared with a decrease of 3.2% for the UK as a whole). This was the ninth consecutive quarter in which the overall services index in Northern Ireland has shown a year on year fall.
  • Distribution - Wholesale & Retail in NI has shown the first annual increase since Quarter 3 2007. It was the fourth consecutive quarter in which Business Services & Finance (-3.7%) has reported a decrease. However, the following sub sectors increased over the quarter - Distribution - Wholesale and Retail (1.9%), Other Services (2.6%), Transport, Storage and Communication (0.9%) and the Hotels and Restaurants (0.8%) sectors.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) measure of unemployment used in DETI labour market statistical publications is consistent with the International Labour Organisation measure. An explanation of the measures of unemployment can be found at http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/stats-labour-market/stats-labour-market-unemployment.htm
  2. The official measure of unemployment is sourced to the LFS and refers to people without a job who were available for work and had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained. This definition is consistent with that recommended by the International Labour Office. Unemployment estimates for the European Union and the Republic of Ireland are sourced to EUROSTAT.
  3. The figures released today contain data from a number of different sources. The unemployment, employment and economic inactivity rates are sourced to the LFS and refer to the period September-November 2009. It should be noted that the LFS figures are estimates, which are subject to sampling error. This means that the exact figure is likely to be contained in a range surrounding the estimate quoted. For example, the exact number of unemployed persons is 95% likely to fall within +/- 10,000 of the quoted estimate.
  4. The Claimant Count measure of unemployment relates to December 2009 and is based on claimant data from Jobs and Benefits Office Administrative Systems.
  5. Not all those who register for unemployment benefits meet the criteria for LFS unemployment. Conversely, not all those defined as unemployed in the LFS are eligible for unemployment benefits. Estimates of the numbers unemployed may also differ between the two sources due to timing differences.
  6. Under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 companies are only legally required to notify the Department of impending redundancies of 20 or more employees. Any estimates provided are therefore likely to be an underestimate of total job losses, though it is not possible to quantify the extent of the shortfall.
  7. Subject to the criteria mentioned above, employers must notify the Department of a) redundancies proposed and b) redundancies confirmed. Where redundancies occur, the confirmed total provides a better indication of real job losses since all proposed redundancies do not actually take place.
  8. Redundancies do not necessarily equate to job losses, for example, employees who do not qualify for a redundancy package; those on temporary contracts are not incorporated in redundancy estimates.
  9. The Production and Service Sector Output measures relate to the 3rd quarter (July - September) of 2009. These estimates are based on surveys of businesses and estimates of change are subject to sampling error. Figures for a quarter may be revised if more complete information subsequently becomes available.
  10. The ‘Other Manufacturing Sector’ includes – Wood and Wood products, Pulp, Paper and Printing products, Rubber and Plastic products, Non-metallic Mineral products, Refined Petroleum products and Manufacturing not elsewhere classified.
  11. The ‘Other Services Sector’ includes - Education, Health and Social Work and Other community, Social and Personal Services activities.
  12. Details of sampling errors, together with more detailed statistical information and definitions of the methodology used, can be found in the Labour Market Report (LMR) bulletin, which is available on the following website: http://www.statistics.detini.gov.uk/
  13. For media enquiries, please contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
  14. General information can be obtained from Martin Monaghan, DETI Statistics Research Branch, on Tel: 028 9052 9421.