1,709 are out of work in Ballymena and District

The current unemployed total, for August, stands at 1,709 which is 17 more claimants than the previous month (1,692).

Broken down into wards, Dunclug had the highest total unemployed on 140 (137 the previous month) Ballee was next highest with its claimant count of 119 (125 in July), followed by Ballykeel on 112 (115 claimants the previous month)

The ward with the least unemployment as of August was Dunminningon with 23 claimants.

Province-wide, the unemployment rate has risen to 8.2% in the last quarter and is now above the UK average.

The figure was also lower than the European Union rate of 10.4% and the Republic of Ireland’s rate of 14.8% - both of which were recorded in June 2012.

The number of jobless in Northern Ireland was also up from the rate recorded one year ago of 7.4%.

Unemployment for 18-24 year olds was recorded at 23.5% - up 5.2 percentage points over the year while 45.5% of the region’s unemployed have been jobless for one year or more.