The Ulster Unionist Party’s Economy spokesperson Sandra Overend MLA, has given a guarded welcome to the latest unemployment figures, which show that long term unemployment and youth unemployment remain frustratingly high, despite the headline figures showing a welcome  fall in overall unemployment.

Mrs Overend said,

““Helping long term claimants to come off the dole, and getting young people into work should be Executive priorities. We must do all in our power to get the long term unemployed back to work and ensure that a generation of young people do not join their ranks”

I welcome the latest figures which show that unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen, for eleven consecutive months with a drop of 600 in the number of people claiming JSA and that over the year, showing that the Northern Ireland claimant count decreased by 8.2% or 5,300 people to 59,500.  

This continued progress is to be welcomed, and I commend the work of all the agencies involved in achieving this figure. Furthermore, there are also signs of welcome growth in the construction, manufacturing and services sector in the third quarter of 2013, which helps to stabilise the economy in Northern Ireland, and may help to encourage further support and investment.

“However, we must also accept that we still face some major difficulties. At 7.3%, the unemployment rate here is higher than the UK average, which stands at 7.1%.

“Furthermore, the Northern Ireland claimant count for December was the highest for all twelve of the UK regions. Even though over the whole of 2013 the local claimant count reduced by 5,300, this was a reduction of 8.2 per cent, much less than the 19.8% across the UK.

It is very clear that more needs to be done to ensure that the right market conditions are in place to help those who are currently unemployed to find a job.”

Mrs Overend continued,

“I remain concerned that long term unemployment - those who have been unemployed for more than one year - has stagnated in recent months at 2.1% of the total workforce, up from 1.9% at the same time last year. Moreover, although the youth claimant count has gone down, the rate of youth unemployment unfortunately continues to rise. These two categories require special attention.”