Today’s labour market statistics reveal more positive headlines, particularly in relation to unemployment. The headline ILO unemployment rate eased to 3.8% in the three months to November – its lowest rate since August 2007, and moving closer towards the all-time-low of 3.2% (July 2007). Continue reading
economic inactivity
Economic inactivity jumps
As far as positive headlines are concerned, Northern Ireland’s labour market statistics have been a source of rich pickings over the last 18 months. Once again today’s batch of data raises an eyebrow or two. Chief amongst these is the fall in the ILO unemployment rate – to 4.0% in Q3. This represents the lowest unemployment rate since Q2 2008 and compares with a record low of 3.2% in the summer of 2007. Continue reading
Mixed Messages as NI’s recovery looks laboured?
Today we received the last set of labour market statistics ahead of next month’s General Election. Theresa May will be pleased at the headlines with a number of record highs and lows. Continue reading
Unemployment rate falls but for the wrong reasons?
During the three months to February 2017, Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 5.2% (UK = 4.7%). This represents the lowest unemployment rate since the period September – November 2008. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s youth unemployment rate (18-24yrs of age) dipped below the 13% mark for the first time in 7 years. At 12.9% (UK = 10.4%), this is almost half the rate that prevailed at the peak in Q3 2013. Surely, cause for celebration? Continue reading