The Live Register has shown an increase of 7,554 to 159,960 in the five-week period between December 21st, 2001, and January 31st, 2002.
When seasonal factors were taken into account, the register increased by 3,500.
The standardised employment rate in January was up to 4.1 per cent from 3.7 per cent in April 2001.
The Live Register is not designed to measure employment. It includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to Unemployment Benefit and Assistance.
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Unemployment is measured by the quarterly national Household survey and the latest figure for June-August 2001 is 79,500 persons unemployed.