NI productivity machine continues to misfire

Northern Ireland’s labour market statistics have provided a smattering of record highs and lows of the positive variety in recent months. The monthly Labour Force Survey, which signalled a record low in unemployment last month (3.1% for Q1 2018), played second fiddle to the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES). This is the most closely watched employment survey as it measures the actual number of jobs.

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Northern Ireland Labour Market Report March 2016

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The latest Northern Ireland Labour Market Report was publish this week. A fall in the economic inactivity rate over the quarter and the year was perhaps the main story. The rate has fallen to a record low. Are Northern Ireland’s welfare reforms finally working? Continue reading