1,433 currently out of work in Ballymena area

According to the latest figures from the Department of Enterprise, the claimant count in the borough now stands at 1,433, compared to 1,443 in July.

Wards within the borough registering the most claimant counts for unemployment in August were Dunclug with 112 (up eight from July), Ballykeel with 107 (105 in July) and Harryville 103 (106 in July).

The areas with the lowest claimant count last month were Ballyloughan with 23 (28 the previous month) and Slemish, also with 23 claimants (17 in July).

Province-wide, figures for August show that the number of claimants in receipt of unemployment related benefits decreased by 600 over the month.

Commenting on the figures, DETI Minister Arlene Foster said: “A further decrease in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate is welcome, as is the sustained decrease in the number of unemployment benefit claimants, which has reduced by 9,800 over the last 12 months.”