Unemployment and Benefits Uptake Levels

At time of the 1991 Census unemployment equalled 17.7% in Armagh and Dungannon area compared to a NI average of 15.7% Unemployment was particularly high in the Dungannon area at 19.9%.

In the recent past the trend for male unemployment is broadly in line with the N.I. average, for females in the Armagh area the average is 6% and in the Dungannon area, 6.4%. This compares to a N.I. average of 4.6%.

As well as looking at those who are unemployed there is a need to ascertain the level of low-paid workers employed in the Armagh and Dungannon area, and their relative poverty and need.

The table below shows the percentage uptake of benefits in the Armagh and Dungannon area in comparison to Northern Ireland. This indicates a reliance on benefits and the related poverty and deprivation which accompanies this.