1,667 out of work in District

FIGURES released on Wednesday show that the unemployment rate in Ballymena has fallen slightly in the past month.

The current unemployed total, for October, stands at 1,667 which is 16 less claimants than the previous month (1,683).

Broken down into wards, Ballee had the highest total unemployed on 131 (130 the previous month), Dunclug was next highest with its claimant count of 129 (134 in September), followed by Ballykeel on 115 (115 claimants the previous month also).

The ward with the fewest number of people out of work was Dunminning on 24 (27 in September).

Province-wide, the number of people out of work rose again, with another 600 joining the dole queues in October.

The monthly claimant count for NI was the second highest among the 12 UK regions, at seven per cent compared to the average of 4.8%, according to the latest figures.

There are now 64,100 people here claiming benefits.

Related topics: