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According to the data, the rise in benefit claimants was slightly lower than the increase in the UK as a whole (6.4 per cent).
Arlene Foster, the economic minister for NI, said almost 80 per cent of the annual increase in claimants has taken place since July 2008.
"Last month showed another sharp increase in the registered unemployed and the increase over the last six months has been particularly marked," she commented.
In the year to January 2009, the number of benefit claimants increased by 62 per cent, higher that the UK average which was 55.1 per cent, reports the Fermanagh Herald newspaper.
Farming UK has also reported that jobs in the NI meat industry are also at risk.
