No letup in rising tide of job losses

THE level of unemployment in some areas of Newtownabbey now stands at around 10 per cent, according to the government's latest statistics.

The number of local people out of work and claiming benefits rose again last month, and the continuing tide of job losses has clearly hit some parts of the borough worse than others.

The Department of Employment's Monthly Labour Market Report shows that during February the jobless total for the Newtownabbey area was 2,123 - 1,662 men and 461 women. That represents an increase of 89 (4.4%) on the previous month and a rise of 612 (40.5%) over the past year.

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The percentage of the borough's working age population claiming unemployment benefit now stands at 4.2 per cent - still the seventh lowest figure of Northern Ireland's 26 local council areas.

Government statistics show that within Newtownabbey, the wards with the highest proportion of the working age population out of work and claiming benefits are Dunanney (10.4%) and Valley (9.3%). The figures for Ballyclare are 5.3% (North ward) and 4.3% (South ward), while in Glengormley it's a similar situation (5.3%). The wards with the lowest unemployment claimant figures are Doagh (2.4%), Jordanstown (2.3%) and Ballynure (1.9%).

Read the full story in this week's Times...