Emigration blamed for seasonally adjusted fall in jobless figures

THE live register showed an increase of 1,622 last month although the seasonally adjusted figure slightly decreased.

A total of 444,300 people are currently recorded as being in receipt of welfare benefits, a fall from a peak of 466,900 during 2010. The decrease, however, was due to the rise in emigration.

Labour Party Enterprise spokesman Willie Penrose said the figures were a stark indication that job creation must be central to any new programme for government.