The number of people unemployed in Northern Ireland has fallen to 6 per cent of the labour force during October, the lowest figure for nearly 25 years.

There were 46,600 people claiming unemployment benefit last month, a drop of 700. The North's economy minister, Mr John McFall, said the latest figures meant 693,000 people were in employment.

"The figures mean that there are 20,000 or 3 per cent more people in jobs compared to the same period last year, and 54,000 people are currently classified as unemployed under the International Labour Organisation method of counting, a fall of 6,000 since this time last year.

"All of the figures published today are very positive signals of an economy which is both stable and confident," the minister said. The seasonally adjusted claimant count figures are now at their lowest level since December 1976.