Employment optimism misses West Belfast

Una Gillespie of the West Belfast Economic Forum

Recently released Labour Market statistics in the Six Counties show that while overall employment in the north of Ireland has increased, the picture for West Belfast remains bleak. West Belfast has the highest number of unemployment claimants in the city at 3,265 - over twice as high as the numbers of claimants in South and East Belfast.

Commenting on the statistics, Una Gillespie of the West Belfast Economic Forum said: "Unemployment in an area like this does not come about by accident; it comes about as a result of government policy and political decision making. What is required is a massive injection of investment into the area to ensure that local people can get access to employment opportunities on an equal basis with the rest of the city."