The labour market statistics containing HMRC Real Time Information data for Northern Ireland and the NI redundancy data were published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.

Users will be aware that NISRA releases Northern Ireland's key labour market indicators on the same day and at the same time as those released by the other National Statistics Institutes for their respective territories of the UK. Importantly, this long-standing arrangement enables the Northern Ireland position to be considered in the wider context of that across the UK.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has taken the decision to delay its next publication of the UK and Regional Labour Market estimates based on the UK Labour Force Survey (previously due on Tuesday 17 October). This also includes details from the Claimant Count data. These data will now be published on Tuesday 24 October. The ONS have explained the reason for their delay in this Statement, which they released Friday 13th October.

In line with our long-standing arrangements and in order to ensure that NI estimates can continue be viewed in the wider UK context, NISRA has decided to delay the release of the Northern Ireland results from the Labour Force Survey and claimant count information until 24^th October - in line with arrangements instigated by the ONS.

Users viewing the ONS statement can be assured that response rates to the Labour Force Survey in Northern Ireland continue to be robust, for which we are grateful to the general public of Northern Ireland. We will continue to work with ONS on this matter.

NISRA apologises for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Payrolled employees increase over the month, while monthly earnings remain unchanged

• The number of employees receiving pay through HMRC PAYE in NI in September 2023 was 793,700, a 0.3% increase over the month and a 1.7% increase over the year.
• When considering employees by age, the 25-34 age group is the only group yet to return to pre-COVID levels, remaining 0.3% below March 2020 numbers.
• Earnings data from the HMRC PAYE indicated that NI employees had a median monthly pay of Pound 2,097 in September 2023, unchanged over the month and an increase of Pound 132 (6.7%) over the year. 

Proposed redundancies over three times the total for previous year

• NISRA, acting on behalf of the Department for the Economy, received confirmation that 420 redundancies occurred in September 2023.  Over the year October 2022 to September 2023, 1,810 redundancies were confirmed, 64.0% more than in the previous 12 months (1,100). 
• There were 170 proposed redundancies in September 2023, taking the annual total to 4,390, over three times the total for the previous year (1,410).

Commentary

• The latest Labour Market release shows that over the year both payrolled employee numbers and earnings have increased. Annual totals for proposed and confirmed redundancies have also increased when compared to the previous year, with the proposed redundancies total similar to pre-pandemic levels. The confirmed redundancies total remains below the long-term trend.
• The latest HMRC payroll data shows that payrolled employee numbers increased by 0.3% over the month and increased by 1.7% over the year. Payrolled earnings were unchanged over the month and were 6.7% higher than September 2022.
• In addition, the Department was notified of 420 confirmed redundancies in September 2023, which brought the rolling twelve-month total of confirmed redundancies to 1,810. This is the seventh consecutive month that this total has been over 1,000, and equals the highest total recorded since March 2022, although this figure is still well below the long-term trend. There were also 170 proposed redundancies notified to the Department in September 2023, bringing the annual total covering October 2022 to September 2023 to 4,390. This is the second-highest rolling twelve-month total since August 2021 and is similar to pre-pandemic levels.