Jobless rise in the North due to chaos

THE North’s unemployment is up for the first time in four years amid Brexit concerns, a business survey showed.

The Purchasing Managers Index said conditions were ‘subdued’ at the start of this year, with reduced staffing levels primarily due to job losses in services. Business rose at the weakest pace for more than two years while new orders increased only marginally, the survey of firms revealed.

Ulster Bank chief economist for the North Richard Ramsey said: ‘Looking at the order books of firms, which have been broadly flat for the past two months, suggests subdued growth might be with us for some time.’

Danske Bank also said Brexit was weighing on people’s minds – with 17% saying Brexit talks had negatively affected them while another 12% said the long-term Brexit objectives had impacted on confidence.