Highest redundancy figures since 2001 show economic toll of pandemic

By Q Radio News

Official figures show 280 redundancies were confirmed in May in Northern Ireland - taking the annual total to 5920.

That is the highest figure since 2001. 

Meanwhile, 150 redundancies were proposed in May - with a further 360 proposed in the first two weeks of June. 

Official figures show 280 redundancies were confirmed in May in Northern Ireland - taking the annual total to 5920https://t.co/Cl3EF6DVL0

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) June 15, 2021

But in some good news, the unemployment rate decreased over the last economic quarter by 0.6 percentage points to 3.1 per cent.

The employment news comes after hundreds of remote working jobs were announced by Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) UK, last week. 

HGS provides business process management and customer service solutions for companies.

Outgoing Economy Minister Diane Dodds met representatives from the company to announce the plans last week.

Mrs Dodds said: “It is my pleasure to welcome HGS to Northern Ireland and announce this major investment.

“A project of this scale will deliver a real boost for our economy, generating additional annual salaries of around £10 million once fully implemented.

“The creation of over 560 jobs, all of which can be home-based, will provide job opportunities across the whole of Northern Ireland.

“This provides important employment options for those in rural communities and those who will be attracted to working from home through lifestyle or necessity.

“This also brings environmental benefits including reduced energy use and costs, along with less traveling for staff, less time away from home leading to improved work-life balance, less stress and more flexibility.”

Around 100 jobs are already in place, with people recruited from every council area in Northern Ireland.

Invest NI has given £1,695,000 of support to the company.

(Unemployment is down slightly in the last economic quarter)