1,024 out of work locally

According to the latest figures from the Department of Enterprise for September, the claimant count in Ballymena now stands at 1.024 compared to 1,092 in August.

Wards registering the most claimant counts for unemployment in September were Ballykeel with 84 claimants (82 in August), Ballee with 80 (84 in August), and Dunclug with 72 (72 in August).

The ward with the lowest number was Slemish with 13, down one on the previous month.

In neighbouring Antrim, the jobless total fell month on month from 845 in August to 807 (September).

There, the wards registered the most claimant counts for unemployment last month were Crumlin with 81 (83), Springfarm with 77 (84) and Fountain Hill and Massereene both with 61 in September compared to 62 and 63 claimants, respectively, in August.

The Antrim ward with lowest claimant count was Templepatrick with 11, down two on the previous month.

Province-wide, the claimant count fell by 1,100 over the past month, according to the latest figures.