Need to tackle unemployment

Mid-Ulster Assemblyman Billy Armstrong has called for co-ordinated Government action to tackle the growing unemployment crisis in Mid-Ulster following the release of the latest unemployment statistics.

The Ulster Unionist MLA said;

"The recent unemployment statistics published in the most recent Monthly Labour Market Report have confirmed what local people already knew to be the case, namely that the ongoing economic recession is still hitting Mid-Ulster hard.

According to the data, in March 2009 in the Magherafelt Council area, 985 people, representing 5.6 per cent of adults of working age were registered as claimants. This represents an increase of 697 people or 242 per cent on the figure for the same period last year.

In the Cookstown Council area, 913 people, representing 4.1 per cent of adults of working age were registered as claimants. This represents an increase of 550 or 151.5 per cent on the figure for the same period last year.

With regards to Northern Ireland as a whole, according to the most recent Monthly Labour Market Report, the Claimant count indicated that a total of 45,286 people are listed as unemployed, making up 4.2% of all people of working age. This is an increase of 20,754 on last year, an increase of 84.6 per cent.

These shocking figures are a sobering reminder of the very real impact of the recession on the local community both throughout Northern Ireland as a whole and in Mid-Ulster in particular, with each figure representing a family or an individual suffering genuine hardship at this time as a result of unemployment.

As I highlighted previously, the Mid-Ulster area has been particularly badly affected by the downturn in the construction industry, and many people were employed in small-building firms.

There are no easy solutions to the problems we face, because the current situation is largely the result of global economic conditions, and the situation will only really improve when the factors which caused this recession are addressed by National World Governments and trading blocs.

This does not mean that we can absolve the Stormont Executive of all responsibility. It is now more important than ever that the Stormont Executive comes together and works relentlessly to ensure that everything that can be done to help a local recovery is indeed being done.

In Mid-Ulster local small building operations and manufacturing industry has taken an absolute hammering, and it is imperative that support is given to those businesses - particularly those small and medium enterprises who are struggling to stay afloat - as well as those who have lost their jobs and are in need of re-training."