UNITE Ireland regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said today that the August 2014 Income Data Services (IDS) pay report highlighted the need for a new Northern Ireland industrial policy.

The IDS statistics identify the top 10 unemployment hotspots in Britain by local authority.

They demonstrate that Northern Ireland’s economy has suffered disproportionately since the 2008 banking crisis. 

Of the top 10 unemployment hotspots in June 2008 only Strabane was in Northern Ireland. 

By June 2014 Northern Ireland local authorities filled four of the worst six positions with Derry, Strabane and Belfast topping the table in positions one, two and three.

“Taken in tandem with the trend to lower wages and a huge growth in part-time working highlighted by research institute NERI, it is clear that we face a particularly difficult set of economic challenges,” said Mr Kelly. 

“Northern Ireland has been very badly hit by the recession and has still to experience a recovery,” he added. 

“Without a new policy approach, such as that proposed by Unite, the region is rapidly heading towards becoming a permanent low-wage economy. 

“Austerity policies such as the Benefits Reform Bill, cuts to public services and a tight wages policy will further reduce local consumption. 

“These statistics give good grounds for a new approach to policy-making and the pursuit of an effective industrial policy. 

“There is a growing consensus on the need for an alternative approach to economic development to that being taken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the NI Executive,” Mr Kelly said.