1,692 people out of work in Ballymena and district

FIGURES released on Wednesday show that the unemployment rate in Ballymena has risen slightly in the past month.

The current unemployed total, for July, stands at 1,692 which is 38 more claimants than the previous month (1,654).

Broken down into wards, Dunclug had the highest total unemployed on 137 (also 137 the previous month) Ballee was next highest with its claimant count of 125 (119 in June), followed by Harryville on 105 (101 claimants the previous month)

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The wards with the least unemployment as of July were Dunminning and Slemish which both had 25 claimants.

Province-wide unemployment is on the increase, with 400 more people joining the dole queue in July.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the region stood at 63,200 as of the end of last month.

It is the highest total for 15 years, and also meant NI had the UK’s second highest claimant count rate for July.

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Figures for the period between April and June showed the unemployment rate was up 0.9 percentage points over the quarter at 7.6%.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the Eurozone continues to face a “very challenging economic climate” amid “disappointing” growth in the global economy.

She said: “While figures show that unemployment has increased over the quarter, the rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland (7.6%) is still below the equivalent rates in the UK (8.0%), European Union (10.3%) and the Republic of Ireland (14.6%).

“This year the Eurozone continues to face a very challenging economic climate and the level of growth in the global economy has been disappointing. Last month the UK also reported three consecutive quarters of falling output. We therefore need to place the latest unemployment figures in this wider context of weak external demand.”

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Close to half of those who are without jobs have been unemployed for a year or more.

Meanwhile the percentage of young people out of work - those aged 18 to 24 - has jumped to just over 22%.

The minister pointed out some positives this month - such as a £40m contract for Wrightbus - but said a renewed and robust strategy is needed to tackle local unemployment.