NORTHERN IRELAND has recorded its lowest unemployment levels ever.
With a rate of 3.1% in the first quarter of 2018, Northern Ireland has a lower rate than the UK (4.2%) for the third consecutive quarter.
The latest figures are according to the Labour Force Survey, a quarterly survey carried out by interviewing people about their personal circumstances and work.
The results for this quarter, published today, show that the unemployment rate decreased by 0.8 %from the previous quarter and 2.1 % over the year.
In the aftermath of the 2008 recession, the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland peaked at 8.2%.
The figures also showed that 51% of those unemployed in Northern Ireland in the last quarter were long-term unemployed.
Also, the economic inactivity rate of 28% decreased over the quarter, which is more than the UK rate of 21%.
