Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) have published their quarterly Labour Market Report and it shows a slight softening in the labour market overall, with the unemployment rate rising to 2.4% in April–June 2025—a statistically significant quarterly increase. While employment broadly held steady, weekly hours worked and claimant numbers point to a muted reduction in workforce activity
Despite these issues, manufacturing continues to buck the trend. According to the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), manufacturing added around 560 jobs during the first quarter of 2025. Over the year, the sector expanded by 1,740 jobs—a strong contribution to Northern Ireland’s overall growth in employment.
This resilience suggests that, even amid broader economic softness, manufacturing remains a stabilising force—and one that stakeholders, policymakers, and firms should continue to support and build upon.
Summary of Key Metrics:
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Unemployment rate: 2.4% (↑ 0.8 pps quarter / ↑ 0.6 pps year)
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Employment rate (16–64): 71.6% (↓ 1.3 pps year)
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Weekly hours worked: 29.9 million (↓ 0.3% quarter)
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Claimant count: 36,500 (3.7% workforce; ↓ 3.1% monthly)
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Manufacturing jobs: +560 (quarter); +1,740 (year)
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