The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland has risen again after remaining flat the previous month.

Although just 200 additional people (0.4%) joined the dole queue last month, the province was one of only two UK regions to record any increase in claimant levels during November. The UK as a whole recorded a decrease of 0.4%.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland was 54,000, which represents 6.2% of the workforce.

Over the year the Northern Ireland claimant count has increased by 55.6% (19,300) compared to 49% for the UK, with the Northern Ireland annual increase the second highest of the UK regions.

However, the figures released today by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) recorded a slight fall in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate during the latest quarter.

It was estimated at 6.6% for the period August to October 2009 and was slightly lower than the rate of 6.8% in the previous quarter but was up from 4.4% recorded in the same period one year ago. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate remained below the UK average (7.9%). It was also lower than the European Union (9.2%) and Republic (13%) rates for September.

Today’s figures also show that there has been a fall in the number of jobs available between June and September, with job losses recorded across all main sectors.

Seasonal adjusted estimates from the Quarterly Employment Survey showed that there were 701,730 jobs filled in September, a decrease of 5,010 over the quarter and a fall of 25,600 over the year.

The slump over the quarter was driven by falls in the manufacturing sector (-1,540), the service sector (-1,640) and construction sector (-1,720).

Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: “The ‘levelling off’ of unemployment figures in recent months is welcome news for the labour market. However, it is difficult to say whether this is a pause in the jobless figure or if it represents the turning point that will eventually see the number of claimants fall.

“The view of most economic commentators is that there will be a time lag before any recovery in business confidence is translated into jobs growth.”