Sandra Overend, the Ulster Unionist Party’s economy spokesperson has said that the latest quarterly labour market figures show a mixed set of results for Northern Ireland.

The Mid Ulster MLA said:

“The Labour Force Survey results for the first quarter of the year look positive at first glance- with unemployment down in general , and a reduction in the levels of both long term and youth unemployment.  However, whilst not wishing to talk our economy down, the figures show up some persistent structural weaknesses.

“Our unemployment rate is down 0.2% to 7.2% since the last quarterly survey, but this is less of a reduction than the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, which are both down by 0.4%, and the European Union which reduced by 0.3%.  At 7.2% our unemployment rate is the sixth highest out of eleven UK regions but it is much lower than the Republic’s which stands at 11.9%.

“There seems to have been a deluge of positive job announcements in recent weeks, so one can expect that these will be reflected in the next quarterly set of figures- when they are all delivered on the ground.

“I welcome all indications that our economy is on the up again, but would caution that we still have the highest claimant count and economic inactivity rates in the entire United Kingdom.  Any improvements in these areas have been marginal.

“We also have a long way to go the match the statistics in the survey for the second quarter of 2007 when the Assembly was re-established.  At that time Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate stood at 3.7%, which was lower than the then UK average of 5.4%.  There is clearly much work which needs to be done to lower the current rates of joblessness and benefits dependency.”