A MODEST but welcome jobs boost has lifted payroll numbers in Ards and North Down over the past year, with fresh figures pointing to tentative signs of renewed employer confidence.
The latest employment data for January 2026 shows there were 67,654 employees on payroll in the borough – up 1.3% on the same month last year.
Over the past 12 months, employers have added 878 jobs locally, marking a steady rise despite wider economic uncertainty. There was also a small month-on-month increase, with payroll numbers up by 99 (0.1%) compared with December.
The figures, based on analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment and pay app WageSight, suggest a cautiously improving picture.
However, compared with other towns and cities across Northern Ireland, Ards and North Down ranks sixth out of 11 for employment change, placing it among the weaker performers overall.
The local trend mirrors a mixed employment picture regionally, with some areas seeing stronger gains while others remain under pressure. Nationally, employment levels have also been varied over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop for businesses.
The UK currently has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, the highest level in five years and the unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds across the UK stands around 14%.
Paul Hebden, WageSight Director, said: “Employment in Ards and North Down has improved over the past year, and recent data points to a more positive outlook. The key question now is whether employers can sustain this momentum in the months ahead.”
“It remains too early to determine whether the recent uptick signals the start of sustained growth or simply a temporary fluctuation,” he added.
