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| Sharp increase in NI unemployment | Sharp increase in NI unemployment |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There has been a sharp increase in the number of people out of work in Northern Ireland. | There has been a sharp increase in the number of people out of work in Northern Ireland. |
| The latest figures released by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) reveal the number claiming job seeker's allowance in NI has increased to 43,900. | |
| The figure marks a rise of 1,900 in the past month and shows that the unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2009 stands at 5.7%. | |
| Minister Arlene Foster said the figures reflected a weak global economy. | Minister Arlene Foster said the figures reflected a weak global economy. |
| "Our unemployment rate remained below that of the UK and despite the recent increase, it was still fourth lowest of the UK regions," the employment minister continued. | "Our unemployment rate remained below that of the UK and despite the recent increase, it was still fourth lowest of the UK regions," the employment minister continued. |
| "Following the significant job losses announced in April, particularly in the manufacturing sector, I met with the Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and we have agreed to do all that we can to help businesses and local workers plot their way through this challenging recession. | "Following the significant job losses announced in April, particularly in the manufacturing sector, I met with the Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and we have agreed to do all that we can to help businesses and local workers plot their way through this challenging recession. |
| "We will work together to support our private sector, focussing on the provision of practical support and advice as well as implementing training and re-skilling programmes and assistance. | "We will work together to support our private sector, focussing on the provision of practical support and advice as well as implementing training and re-skilling programmes and assistance. |
| Mrs Foster said the figures reflected a weak global economy | Mrs Foster said the figures reflected a weak global economy |
| "Our officials are working closely to explore and identify new measures to help alleviate the current pressures being felt in companies across Northern Ireland." | "Our officials are working closely to explore and identify new measures to help alleviate the current pressures being felt in companies across Northern Ireland." |
| The annual increase in those claiming job seeker's allowance in Northern Ireland was 20,200, which showed a marked rise of 85% - an increase similar to the UK average. | |
| The quarterly increase of 1.5% in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate is the largest increase since the LFS quarterly series began 14 years ago. | The quarterly increase of 1.5% in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate is the largest increase since the LFS quarterly series began 14 years ago. |
| However, despite this, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate remains below the UK average rate of 6.7% and was fourth lowest of the UK regions. | However, despite this, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate remains below the UK average rate of 6.7% and was fourth lowest of the UK regions. |
| It was also lower than the European Union rate of 7.6% and Republic of Ireland rate of 8.8% for January 2009. | It was also lower than the European Union rate of 7.6% and Republic of Ireland rate of 8.8% for January 2009. |
| The UK unemployment total now stands at 2.1m. | The UK unemployment total now stands at 2.1m. |