NEWRY’S jobs crisis has gone from bad to worse.
Figures from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment have revealed that Newry has seen the worst jump in unemployment anywhere in the country.
Unemployment figures for the Newry and Mourne area have rocketed up by 27.5 per cent from this time last year, more than double the average rise of 12.6 per cent.
There are now 3,676 people claiming unemployment benefits in Newry and Mourne, 6.1 per cent of the total working population.
This makes Newry the fifth worst effected council area for unemployment in the north, with Derry, the recently crowned City of Culture, remaining the worst effected area, on 7.47 per cent.
The worst effected areas within Newry and Mourne continue to be Crossmaglen and Creggan, with unemployment rates of 11.2 per cent, and 9.8 per cent respectively.
The least effected areas are Donaghmore and Tullyhappy, with 4.2 and 4.4 per cent of the working populations unemployed.
There also continues to be a major gulf in unemployment levels between men and women, with more than nine per cent of the working male population unemployed, and less than three per cent of women out of work.
Across the north it was one of the worst months for unemployment in recent memory, as 600 more people joined the dole queues in June, a symptom of the stagnant economy here which has not grown since November 2007.
Orla Jackson, Chief Executive of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade, said: "Newry and Mourne has been hit hard by the economic downturn, particularly by the damage done to the construction industry.
“This has resulted in massive job losses to that, and relating sectors. “It is of the utmost importance that the government understands the unique challenges Newry and Mourne is facing, and works with local businesses to create new jobs and alternative employment, for those people who find themselves out of work.”
Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist Richard Ramsey says the threat to jobs here is two-fold.
“Given that the economic recovery failed to materialise in any real sense here, private sector firms will be forced to lay-off more employees, furthermore the £1.5 billion in public spending cuts coming from the emergency budget will lead to thousands more job losses,” he said.