Northern Ireland has more people in work than ever recorded. according to a new survey.

The quarterly employment survey estimated that as of September 2007, there were 720,210 jobs filled in the province.

The figure represents a net increase of 1,450 over the quarter and 12,010 over the year. However, the rate of unemployment rose is up 0.6 per cent on the last quarter to 4.0 per cent.  The survey also covers the period before a recent series of job losses hit the province.

Economy minister Nigel Dodds said that despite those "setbacks" he  was confident the employment market would continue to shows signs of growth.

"We have to look at this in the long view. I can't speculate what the next quarter's figures will be but we are working extremely hard to create the economic conditions where the overall number of people in employment will continue to increase and we will also continue to try to keep down unemployment and inactivity rates."

“It is encouraging to note that the entire increase in jobs over the year is accounted for by the private sector, which increased by some 12,830 jobs during the last year," he said.