1,714 out of work in Ballymena borough

According to the latest figures from the Department of Enterprise, the claimant count in the borough now stands at 1,714, compared to 1,717 (July).

Wards within the borough registering the most claimant counts for unemployment in August were Ballee 118 (118 in July), Castle Demesne 113 (108 July), Dunclug 116 (122).

The areas with the lowest claimant count in August were Ballyloughan and Glenwhirry, both with 34.

Province-wide, the number of people signing on is continuing to fall.

Three hundred fewer people claimed the dole in August, bringing the total claimant count to 62,200.

This is the seventh consecutive month that the number out of work has fallen - the first time it has happened since August 2007.

The other measurement of unemployment, the Labour Force Survey, shows a quarterly rate of 6.9% which is below the UK rate of 7.7%.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the latest employee jobs figures were “positive”.

“The increases were broadly based, occurring in the services, manufacturing and other industries sectors,” she said.

The minister said the continued decrease in the unemployment rate, and the recent increase in overall jobs, was encouraging and reflected Northern Ireland’s “strengthening” economic position.

“Our strategy aims to continue to develop high value-added, quality jobs as well as encouraging investment to further demonstrate that Northern Ireland is a great place to do business,” she said.