Jobless figures continue to fall

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6748389.stm

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The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland has fallen to just over 25,000.

That is 200 fewer than last month and a decrease of more than 3,000 on this time last year.

New figures show that the unemployment rate was 4.3% for the period between February and April.

The increase in employment was driven by a rise in the number of service sector jobs which rose by 1,750, and construction jobs, up 500.

On the down side, however, there was a reduction in manufacturing jobs of 280.

The Northern Ireland unemployment rate remains below the UK average of 5.5% and is also well below the European Union average of 7.3%.

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said the figures "represented very positive news".

"Northern Ireland is experiencing record levels of jobs, combined with historically low levels of unemployment and this provides evidence that the economy is moving in the right direction," he said.