THE number of people collecting pay cheques at the end of the month is now the highest in Northern Ireland since 1995, official figures have revealed.
Key findings from the Labour Market Report also record another monthly drop in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit.
According to the figures compiled on behalf of the Department for the Economy, the number of people joining the dole queue decreased by 600 over the month to 37,200 in May.
This is the second consecutive decrease after two consecutive months when the claimant count increased.
Meanwhile the unemployment rate measured over the quarter to February this year also decreased - falling by 0.2 per cent over the quarter and 0.4 per cent over the year to 5.8 per cent.
At the same time, the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work - the employment rate - increased over the quarter and over the year to a high of 69.6 per cent - still lower than the UK rate of 74.2 per cent.
The number of people aged over 16 in employment between February to April 2016 was estimated at 841,000 - up by 18,000 on the same period in 2015.
The NI economic inactivity rate (26.0 per cent) was also 0.5 per cent lower than in the previous quarter and 1.2 per cent lower than in the previous year.
But, although at an all -time low, the economic inactivity rate in the north remained stubbornly higher than the UK rate of 21.8 per cent.
There were also encouraging dips in both the number of long-term unemployed and youth claimants which have long been a source of concern.
A total of 8,800 under 25 year-olds (24.2 per cent of all claimants) were claiming benefits last month, representing a decrease of 5.2 per cent (479 claimants) over the month and a decrease of 19.7 per cent (2,157) over the year.
The number of long-term claimants stood at 13,421, a decrease of 2.5 per cent (348 claimants) over the month and 20.8 per cent (3,518) over the year.
Economy Minister Simon Hamilton welcomed the "record high" employment rate and "historic low" in economic inactivity.
"I warmly welcome this positive news showing a further fall in unemployment in Northern Ireland," he said.
"While employment contributes to wealth and value added in the economy, on an individual level, secure employment provides people with financial stability as well as wider benefits, including better health and greater social stability.
"The number of employee jobs continues to increase overall, including growth across the manufacturing, construction and services sectors and has now returned to pre-downturn levels."
Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey said the latest figures meant the north's new Economy Minister "couldn't be getting off to a better start".
"The Labour Force Survey broke at least five records during the latest period from February to April," he said.
"The number of people working in some capacity hit an all-time-high of 845,000, while the number of full-time workers also reached a new peak of 634,000.
"As a result, the number of people of working-age in employment - the so-called employment rate - hit a record high of 69.6 per cent."
