1,140 out of work in Ballymena

According to the latest figures from the Department of Enterprise, the claimant count now stands at 1,140, compared to 1,164 in June.

Wards within the Ballymena area registering the most claimant counts for unemployment in July were Ballykeel with 91 claimants (88 in June), Ballee with 85 claimants (92 in June), Castle Demesne 81 (84 in June), Dunclug 81 (89 in June), and Fair Green 77 claimants (80 in June).

The areas with the lowest claimant count last month was Dunminning and Galgorm with 20 claimants in each ward.

Province-wide, the number of claimants in receipt of unemployment related benefits stood at 43,500, a decrease of 400 over the month.

There has been a fall of 9,400 in the unemployment claimant figures over the last 12 months.

Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell said: “The decrease in the number of claimants of unemployment related benefits in July is welcomed, although two quarterly increases in the unemployment rate sees a return to levels reported a year ago.

“The latest figures reiterate the continued challenges faced by the Northern Ireland labour market and the impact of continued uncertainty in global markets.”