UNEMPLOYMENT IN Northern Ireland is set to rise but even after growth of 11.8% in the past year, unemployment in the North doesn’t even come close to the levels in the south.

Over the last month The North recorded its highest increase in unemployment with an extra 800 people signing on in July – bringing the total number claiming benefits to 56,800 but that figure is set to rise by over 70,000 according to Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey.

The North’s rate of unemployment now stands at 5.4% – its highest rate since June 1999 and substantially higher than the 4.5% rate in the UK. The figure however dwarfs the rate of unemployment in the south of the country which stands at 13.3%.

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North's unemployment to rise

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