NI levels remain at record low

The proportion of people who are unemployed in Northern Ireland has remained at a record low, the latest figures have shown.

Between December and February unemployment stood at 1.5%, which is the lowest rate in the UK.

But the proportion of people in work – the employment rate – also decreased over the year to 71.3%.

The other 27.2% are classed as “economically inactive” – a term used to describe those who are not working nor available to work, such as students, carers or those with long-term sickness.

This rate was the highest in the UK.

The most common reason for economic inactivity wars long-term sickness.

There were 122,000 people in this category, accounting for 37.5% of the economically inactive.

This was an increase of 11,000 from the same period in 2023-24.

Those in work saw their pay packets continue to grow at a rate faster than inflation.

The number of workers on company payrolls in NI continued to grow in February.

The typical monthly pay in Northern Ireland was £2,359 in February – £191 more or 8.8% higher than the same time the previous year.

NI had the largest annual increase of the 12 UK regions.

The figures also showed there were 810,700 workers on company payrolls – an increase of 1.4% over the year.