Marginal drop in local jobless total

The number of people out of work and claiming benefits in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Council area dropped by 0.9 per cent last month, according to the latest government figures.
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The July Labour Market Report reveals that the local jobless total stood at 2,246 during June - 1,587 men and 659 women.

The borough’s claimant count (2.5 per cent of the working age population) is the second lowest among the 11 new super council areas.

According to the government statistics, the local jobless total has dropped by 21.5 per cent over the past year, meaning 616 fewer people out of work and claiming benefits.

The figures for Northern Ireland show that the number of claimants in receipt of unemployment related benefits stood at 44,000 in June - an increase of 200 from the previous month.

Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell commented: “Although unemployment measures show an increase over the most recent period, the levels and rates remain below those recorded a year ago. The latest figures highlight the continued challenges faced by the Northern Ireland labour market and the impact of continued uncertainty in global markets.

“The Northern Ireland unemployment rate (6.2 per cent) continues to compare very favourably to the April 2015 rates for the European Union (9.7 per cent) and the Republic of Ireland (9.7 per cent).”