Dole claimant rate worse than last year

The latest data show the city posted the highest rate of dole claimants at 7.3 per cent of the resident working age population in December - representing a fine improvement of 0.1 percentage points on the previous month.

But dole queues in the city are still longer than this time last year when the claimaint count was 6.9 per cent.

In Strabane dole queues lengthened slightly in December with the latest figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETINI) showing the claimant count rate rising from 6.9 per cent to 7 per cent; in Limavady the labour market once again remained static with a claimant count rate of 6.8 per cent.

The report states: "The highest rates at December 2010 were in Derry (7.3 per cent), Strabane (7.0 per cent) and Limavady (6.8 per cent).

"Those that showed the highest percentage increase in levels over the year to December 2010 were Newry and Mourne (21.5 per cent), Banbridge (18.0 per cent) and North Down (14.5 per cent)."

The Londonderry figure whilst 0.4 percentage points worse than this time last year was also 0.4 per cent better than the 7.7 per cent recorded in September.

Across Northern Ireland the number of unemployment benefit claimants increased by 300 from the previous month's revised figure.

Output from the Northern Ireland Production sector rose by 1.3 per cent during the third quarter of 2010, while the UK increased by 0.6 per cent.

Commenting on the figures and on the general unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent across Northern Ireland - which includes unemployed people not in receipt of benefits - Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: "The latest labour market indicators reported an increase in both the unemployment rate and in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland.

"Our unemployment rate (7.8 per cent) is now almost on a par with the UK rate (7.9 per cent). However, it remains well below the European Union (9.6 per cent) and Republic of Ireland (14.1 per cent) rates.

"The increased output in the Production sector over the quarter and the year is a promising sign. Manufacturing is a key sector in Northern Ireland and there is some evidence that it is returning to growth. It is important that we build on our strengths and the draft budget has proposed some important steps to help the sector, including maintaining business rates at their current level."

The Minister continued: "Despite the difficult economic conditions, opportunities still exist for those companies that can gain a competitive advantage through the provision of high quality, customer-focused products and services."