Ulster Unionist Party Economy spokesperson Adrian Watson MLA has said he is concerned by the latest figures in the Northern Ireland Labour Market Report showing continuing high levels of youth unemployment and economic inactivity.
Mr Watson said:
“The latest Labour Force Survey figures should be a cause for concern for those of us with an interest in the economic success of Northern Ireland PLC. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate is estimated at 6.5% which is 0.9% above the UK average.
“Looked at critically, we still have the highest level of economic inactivity in the United Kingdom at 27.4%, and the lowest rate of employment at 67.6%. Youth unemployment also remains stubbornly high at 19.5% in Northern Ireland- well above the UK average rate of 14%.
“Overall the figures indicate a level of welfare dependency which the economic policies of the Executive are simply not addressing. We must remember the longer term context. The labour force statistics for the second quarter of 2007- when the Assembly and Executive were re-established under DUP/Sinn Fein dominance- showed an unemployment rate in Northern Ireland of 3.7%, lower than both the then UK average of 5.4% and the Republic’s 4.1%.
“It is clear to me that a renewed focus on job creation is what is needed at Stormont. Unfortunately the obsession for some, namely Sinn Fein, is welfare over work.”