An economic initiative aimed at creating jobs in the area is needed if Newry and Mourne is to combat unemployment. Area MP Conor Murphy made the claim following the publication of statistics which shows that Newry has one of the highest levels of unemployment in the north. Only Belfast and Derry have higher numbers of people claiming unemployment benefits despite places like Lisburn having a bigger population. 5.7 per cent of the working age population find themselves out of work in the district. While other areas may have a higher percentage of unemployed people Newry and Mourne has the third highest level of unemployment in real terms. A total of 3665 people are out of work. There is also a significant gap between unemployed men and women. 8.4 per cent of the male population is unemployed while just 3.1 per cent of women are on benefits. However it isn’t all bad news. When compared to previous figures the numbers saw a 1.5 per cent decrease in unemployment levels in the last month and a 0.8 per cent decrease over the past year. Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy warned however that the figures may not be truly representative of the area’s unemployment levels. “The high level of unemployment in the Newry area is particularly worrying given that we have one of the youngest populations in Ireland and the figures would actually be much higher if they included the huge numbers of young people who have left the area in search of employment opportunities across the world,” he said. “What is needed is and economic initiative in the area aimed at attracting, creating and sustaining jobs. All sectors, business, political and community have worked together in the past to create the Newry Vision document and to pursue the priorities contained within it. Te work should continue but the same sectors need to come together need to come together now to create an immediate focus on jobs. There is a significant amount of energy, talent, ideas and influence in the greater Newry area, we must harness that and use if to offer some hope in these difficult economic times, particularly to the young people of our area.
Newry Democrat
22nd January 2013
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