Labour Market Report April 2017

The latest official statistics show a decrease in the NI Labour Force Survey (LFS) unemployment rate of 0.4 percentage point to 5.2% over the quarter; the claimant count fell by 300 persons over the month.

Key Points

• The proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work (the employment rate) decreased over the quarter (0.5 pps) but was unchanged over the year at 68.8%.
• The LFS indicated that the NI unemployment rate (16+) decreased by 0.4 percentage points (pps) over the quarter to December - February 2017 and decreased by 1.1 pps over the year, to 5.2%. This was the lowest rate since September – November 2008. The equivalent UK unemployment rate was down over the quarter and over the year to 4.7%.
• The NI economic inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were not working and not seeking or available to work) was 27.3%, this represented an increase of 0.8pps over the quarter and 0.9 pps over the year.
• The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits (from NI Jobs and Benefits Offices) decreased by 300 over the month to 31,500 in March 2017. This is the twelfth consecutive monthly decrease.
• Full report available here.

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