Fewer out of work across Mid Ulster

In November, there were a totoal of 1,089 claimants in Dungannon Council area, 22 fewer than the previous month.

Year-on-year, the decrease is some 398. Of those out of work, 678 were males and 411 females.

In neighbouring Cookstown Council area the decrease was marginally last m onth falling by just two to 734.

The number of males out of work stood at 467 with 267 females.

Staying in Mid Ulster, the number of claimants in Magherafelt Council area was 858 (552 males and 306 females).

Indeed, 2014 looks like being a good year overall with figures for Northern Ireland showing a decrease of over 8,786 in the last 12 months.

Commenting on the figures, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “The figures published today provide positive signs across a number of key labour market indicators.

“Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployment benefit claimants have decreased over the quarter and the year.

“In addition, the number of employee jobs continues to increase, representing the tenth consecutive quarterly increase in this measure.”

Provisional results from the seasonally adjusted Index of Production (IOP) for the third quarter of 2014 show that output levels decreased by 1.4% over the quarter but increased by 1.6% over the year. The equivalent UK figures show that output rose (by 0.2%) over the quarter and over the year (1.2%).