NI jobless numbers fall again

OFFICIAL figures just out reveal that Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate is still falling.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in November was down by 700 to 51,200.

It is the 23rd fall in a row.

And over the last year the number of people on the benefit is down by nearly 9,000.

The NI rate now stands at 6.3%, just above the UK average of 6%.

The performance of the labour market has been the clearest sign of recovery in the Northern Ireland economy.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said today’s figures show “positive signs across a number of key labour market indicators”.

“Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployment benefit claimants have decreased over the quarter and the year,” she said.

“In addition, the number of employee jobs continues to increase, representing the 10th consecutive quarterly increase in this measure.”