CSO figures show lowest fall in employment in two years

The number of people in employment fell by 3.7% or just under 71,000 people during the year to the end of the third quarter of 2010 - the lowest decline in two years.

The number of people languishing in long-term unemployment has doubled over the last year, it emerged today.

Official figures revealed the rate of those out of work for more than a year soared to 6.5% by autumn.