The number of people claiming the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen to just under 219,900 - a reduction of 5,100 over the last week.
This represents a fall of 63% from the peak of the pandemic, when 598,000 people were completely reliant on the PUP for income support.
In addition to those claiming the PUP, a further 244,600 unemployed people were on the Live Register at the end of July. Over the last seven days, 9,265 people closed their PUP claims, of whom 7,716 reported that they were returning to work.
6,256 will receive their final payment tomorrow. The top sectors in which people returned to work this week were Education (1,500) followed by Accommodation and Food Services (800), Transportation and Storage (800 )