Unemployment levels in the district dropped again this month but statistics relating to the old Newry and Mourne areas reveal that the area has still one of the highest rates of unemployment in the north. Figures released by the Department of Trade and Investment (DETI) revealed that in March this year 2298 people living in the old Newry and Mourne District Council area claimed unemployment benefits – a decrease of 98 claimants (3.3 per cent) on the previous month and 194 claimants less (17.7 per cent) on the same time last year. In the new Newry Mourne and Down District Council at total 4049 people claimed unemployment benefits a total of 202 (4.8 per cent) on last month and a huge drop of 1292 (24.2 per cent) from last year. Commenting on the figures Minister Arlene Foster said: “Job creation and significant investment remains evident among Northern Ireland visitors. While there are positive signals of growth in the local economy challenges and uncertainty in the coming months is likely. I would encourage all local businesses with the help of a range of tailored support programmes from Invest Northern Ireland to actively seek out opportunities for research and development and existing markets to improve their competitiveness in the wider economy.”
Newry Reporter
6th May 2015
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