1,717 people out of work in borough

Figures released on Wednesday show that the unemployment rate in Ballymena has seen little movement in the past month.

The current unemployed total, for July, stands at 1,717 which is one less claimant than the previous month (1,718) according to the latest labour market figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Broken down into wards, Dunclug had the highest total unemployed on 122 (130 the previous month), Castle Demesne was next highest with its claimant count of 108 (106), followed by Harryville on 107 (109 claimants the previous month).

The ward with the fewest number of people out of work was Slemish on 27 (27 in June).

Province-wide, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits was 62,400 in July, which has decreased by 500 from the figure for June and over the last six months there has been a fall of 2,500.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the fall in unemployment.

She stated: “The more recent unemployment benefit figures for July continue to show encouraging signs as this is the sixth consecutive monthly decrease.”