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| Further rise in NI unemployment | Further rise in NI unemployment |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The latest unemployment figures show that the number of people looking for work in Northern Ireland has increased again, but still remains below the UK average. | The latest unemployment figures show that the number of people looking for work in Northern Ireland has increased again, but still remains below the UK average. |
| Last month, another 1,500 lost their jobs, raising the total number looking for work to 51,000. | Last month, another 1,500 lost their jobs, raising the total number looking for work to 51,000. |
| Local unemployment now stands at 6.7%, while the figure is 7.8% in the UK as a whole. | Local unemployment now stands at 6.7%, while the figure is 7.8% in the UK as a whole. |
| Over a 12 month period, the jobless total has increased by nearly 90%. | Over a 12 month period, the jobless total has increased by nearly 90%. |
| Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said rising levels of unemployment were "an inevitable consequence of the current economic climate". | Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said rising levels of unemployment were "an inevitable consequence of the current economic climate". |
| She admitted the fact that Northern Ireland's jobless figures were still lower than the UK and European Union averages would "provide little comfort to those currently out of work". | She admitted the fact that Northern Ireland's jobless figures were still lower than the UK and European Union averages would "provide little comfort to those currently out of work". |
| However, she said "My Department and I remain committed to helping businesses through these difficult times". | However, she said "My Department and I remain committed to helping businesses through these difficult times". |
| BBC Northern Ireland business correspondent Eddie O'Gorman said economists predict a sluggish job market until "well into next year". | BBC Northern Ireland business correspondent Eddie O'Gorman said economists predict a sluggish job market until "well into next year". |
| ""It's a particularly tough time for school leavers and graduates," he said. | ""It's a particularly tough time for school leavers and graduates," he said. |
| "However, companies here are still trying to recruit graduates. | "However, companies here are still trying to recruit graduates. |
| "One employer I was taking to said that because the like of Intel down south are not hoovering up all the graduates from Northern Ireland they can now actually recruit a better calibre of graduate." | "One employer I was taking to said that because the like of Intel down south are not hoovering up all the graduates from Northern Ireland they can now actually recruit a better calibre of graduate." |
| The figures come as the Bank of England's latest quarterly inflation report warned that the UK economy still had some way to go before it recovered from the effects of the financial crisis. | |