SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
The monthly Labour Market Statistics released on Tuesday morning show the first monthly decrease in payrolled employees in a year and the first monthly increase in the welfare claimant count number since February 2021.
The unemployment rate rose 0.4% to 3% in October 2022.
Said Ms McLaughlin: “While the increase in the unemployment rate was small, I am concerned that the statistics reported this morning are the first signs of the increasing difficulties our businesses are facing as they cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
“It is particularly concerning that 190 redundancies were reported in September, after a summer of very few redundancies at all.
“We know the energy crisis is going to have real consequences for workers across the North, as more and more businesses struggle to keep the lights on and their doors open.
“Many of those workers will understandably be growing increasingly concerned about their jobs as we face a very difficult winter ahead.
“If we want to prevent further redundancies, we need to see a reformed Executive and action from Westminster that can help us get to grips with this emergency, including by agreeing help for families as well as providing support for employers across the North.”
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