Virus could take its dole on the economy

100,000 may lose their jobs One direction for top local businesses..

ANOTHER 35,000 people in Northern Ireland may be forced to join the dole queue before the end of this year.

That is the warning from a government report which said that further job losses as a result of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic are likely.

That, combined with an influx of school and university leavers to the job market, will see a growing number out of work.

Northern Ireland’s claimant count – the number of people claiming unemployment benefits – could climb to 100,000 before the end of 2020 or shortly afterwards from 65,151 currently, a figure which had more than doubled in the two previous months.

To put the data into context, a claimant count level above 106,000 has not been witnessed here since the recession of the 1980s.

The Department of the Economy’s report – Covid-19 and the Northern

Ireland Economy – said all sectors have been hit hard by the pandemic with economic activity falling by between 25% and 30% during lockdown. And while there are signs of recovery, a host of risks remain. The report said: “While an economic recovery appears to be underway in Northern Ireland, with manysectors and businesses being reopened, there are still significant risks. “In particular, there is a risk of economic and societal ‘scarring’ if long-term damage is done, if recovery to output and jobs is not swift.”

THE Institute of Directors has announced its shortlist for the Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards 2020.

IOD NI chair Gordon Milligan joined Orla Mcgerr, Head of Corporate Trading at headline sponsor AIB, for the launch.

The awards seek to honour the achievements of directors representing a wide spectrum of organisations from family firms to small and medium enterprises, international companies and beyond.

The ceremony, which will be attended by finalists and sponsors only to ensure social distancing, will take place on September 11.

FEARS Downturn