Unemployment drops slightly but trend is still upwards

In the longer term, the jobless trend is still upwards, with an average increase of 5,000 people joining the unemployment ranks a month.

Women were hardest hit in the first three months of the year as jobs continued to go in the care services and trade.

There was also a 6,000 month on month drop in unemployment benefit claims but year on year, the rise is 74,000 to 454,000, the CBS said.