THE unemployment figures for November confirm the "resilience" of the Island's economy in difficult circumstances, Treasury Minister Anne Craine MHK has said.

Unemployment fell by 18 during the month to a total of 735, representing an unemployment rate of 1.7 per cent.

Mrs Craine said: "Treasury has a key performance indicator in its current Service Delivery Plan to try and help keep unemployment at below 3.5 per cent this year.

"To see the economy running with a rate at only half this is testimony to the Island's resilience in difficult circumstances.

"With heightened competitive market pressures it is remarkable that our employers have been able to sustain business levels and employee numbers and I thank them wholeheartedly for that."