SDLP Jobs spokesperson and Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
The Foyle MLA was responding to the latest employment statistics which showed a worsening gap between the North of Ireland and Great Britain in employment rates and economic inactivity.
While the economic inactivity rate across the UK is 21%, in the North of Ireland it has grown to 28.3%.
This has led to a growing gap in the employment rate – which is 75% in the UK as a whole, but only 69% in Northern Ireland.
There has also been a 3.9% increase in claimant count unemployment in the Derry City and Strabane area in the last year, compared to 1.3% increase across the North of Ireland.
Sinéad McLaughlin said: “It is very disappointing that the Derry City and Strabane District Council area has been hit badly by the increase in claimant count unemployment, with the third highest increase in the last year.
“This underlines my repeated call for the economy minister, and presumably her successor, to take much greater action to address regional economic inequality.”
She added: “Economic inactivity includes many people who would like to work, but cannot.
“Those with caring responsibilities, most often women, and people with disabilities who want to work will often be masked by economic inactivity.
“When a new economy minister is appointed, it is essential that she or he prioritise the high level of hidden unemployment.
“Measures are needed to both stimulate employment and also to assist more people to be able to be employed.
“Action is needed across the Executive, which involves co-ordination with the education and health ministers, for example.
“We need to increase the provision of affordable childcare, ensure our NHS eradicates waiting lists and do more to engage pupils at school so they obtain the skills they need for work.
“But it is down to the economy minister to ensure that adults have the skills they need for the modern economy.
“The North of Ireland needs a skills revolution.
“That would not only assist with the low employment rate, but would also raise pay levels.
“It is a serious concern that median monthly pay in the North of Ireland is £141 less than the UK average.
“This is another clear symptom of the problems facing the incoming economy minister,” added the Foyle MLA.
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