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Empey visits job loss hot spot

22 January 2009

Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today visited Dungannon, one of the areas most affected by the economic downturn.

During his visit, the Minister took the opportunity to speak with members of the public who have recently been made redundant and are now seeking work.  

He said: “The unemployment figures released yesterday, whilst not surprising, show the impact this crisis is having on almost every home in the country.  We must use all resources available to us to help those whose jobs have been lost and provide support and training to make finding another job more achievable.

“This is crunch time, make no mistake about it.  This is a huge challenge on a global scale and we will be judged by our response to it.  My Department has put measures in place to work with both employers and employees to ease the situation and we are increasing the operational capacity of all our Jobs and Benefits Offices and JobCentres so that each individual looking for help receives the service they deserve.  We also provide a subsidy to employers to recruit and train those who are unemployed.”

The Minister continued: “I will explore every avenue to try to minimise job losses throughout Northern Ireland and I guarantee that everything that can be done to help the unemployed find work, will be done.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Unemployment in Dungannon has increased by 108.6% over the past year according to Claimant Count by District Council Area November 2008 statistics.
  2. The range of measures the Department for Employment and Learning has introduced to increase operational capacity in JobCentres and JBOs are:
    • increasing hours of part-time staff and implementing overtime where appropriate, in some circumstances opening offices on Saturdays;
    • employing additional temporary staff;
    • improving employer engagement;
    • reviewing and improving processes to facilitate a rapid response; and
    • increasing, where necessary, staff numbers at the front line.
  3. All media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.