The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell again in November to leave the annual unemployment rate at 4.3 per cent.
Official statistics released today show that the seasonally adjusted Live Register total decreased from 162,100 in October to 158,600 in November, a decrease of 3,500.
November's fall means that in the year to date the number of claimants on the Live Register has fallen by 12,575 or 7.6 per cent.
Although the Live Register is not as reliable a gauge of unemployment as the Quarterly National House Survey, the standardised unemployment rate based on the Live Register indicates that unemployment in November was 4.3 per cent.
The standardised unemployment rate is based on the estimated number of persons unemployed expressed as a percentage of the total labour force as defined by the International Labour Organisation.
This compares with 4.6 per cent in April 2004, based on the Quarterly National Household Survey.
The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment as it includes part-time workers who work up to three days a week and seasonal workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit.
Unemployment is best measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for March to May 2004, is 88,600 persons unemployed.