Latest News

• Unemployment Rate Falls
  
  The latest Labour Market figures released yesterday for Northern Ireland have shown that the unemployment rate has fallen since the last quarter, meaning employment has risen. The unemployment rate was estimated at 6.8% for the period September – November 2011, measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The rate remained below the UK average rate (8.4%) as well as being lower than that of the European Union (9.8%) and Republic of Irelan...

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• ‘Step Ahead 2012’ Employment Initiative Launched
  
  Today saw the launch of a new scheme targeting some of the most disadvantaged people in Northern Ireland.  Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry announced the ‘Step Ahead 2012’ initiative as part of the Steps to Work programme following securing funding of £1.2million from the January monitoring round. The new scheme will allow 500 short-term employment opportunities, lasting up to 10 weeks, to be offered for unemployed peop...

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• Have you got the ‘A’ Factor? – Search for Apprentice of the Year begins!
  
  Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, today launched the Apprentice of the Year awards for 2012. The competition – now in its 11th year, has become the highlight of the year for many of those involved in apprenticeship training in Northern Ireland, and aims to recognise the talent, excellence and determination of local apprentices. If you think you’ve got what it takes – or you know someone who does – the nominati...

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• Unemployment is Fastest Rising Global Fear
  
    A new survey by the BBC World Service has revealed that unemployment is one of the most talked about concerns around the globe. The yearly poll, carried out by Globescan, asked 11,000 people in 23 countries to look at a list of issues and choose which worries they had discussed with friends or family in the past month. Whilst corruption and poverty remained major concerns ranking highest in the results, unemployment showed a si...

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• NI wages increase faster than UK
  
  The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today released figures from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings showing that Northern Ireland’s full-time weekly earnings has risen at a quicker rate than those in the UK.   The survey revealed that the private sector earnings for full-time workers increased by 3.5% over the year compared to 0.8% in the UK. The figures, which cover the year to April 2011, showed the gross a...

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