The jobless total fell in the North in the three months to November last year, declining by 1,000 to 69,000.

The latest government statistics show, however, that there was no easing in demand for unemployment benefits in the North last month.

The number of people receiving support rose by a further 500 claimants to 65,200.

The North’s enterprise minister Arlene Foster said it was disappointing that the claimant count had continued to rise.

But she welcomed the fall in unemployment levels as she also announced 38 new jobs for Co Tyrone yesterday.

A new engineering company, Blackrock Manufacturing, has been set up in Coalisland by Pat O’Neill, the founder of Powerscreen.

The company will initially make track frames and supply parts to manufacturers in the earth-moving and demolition/recycling equipment markets. Blackrock Manufacturing intends to develop its own line of buckets and hitches.

It has received financial support of £229,000 from Invest NI.