Speaking in the Assembly during the SDLP motion on the development of a jobs strategy, he said: "We need to invest in jobs now – and in sustained economic development for the future."
Underlining the vital importance of the construction industry in overall recovery, he said: "In this time of threatened job cuts and recession, it is essential that we encourage investment in our local economy that will create new jobs and protect existing jobs.
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"Unfortunately, the working age economic inactivity rate in the North is 28% - which is higher than the UK average.
"Our young people are struggling to find employment and so the 'brain drain' is continuing. In the long term, this will damage our attempts to establish an economy that can compete effectively in the international market. The Executive must tackle this important issue."
He continued: "We have many skilled and highly educated people in the North but the Executive must step up to the plate and establish an investment strategy for education of all levels, thereby developing a competitive workforce and attracting more investment into the economy.
"This would also help to break the demoralizing annual cycle of moving from Job Seekers Allowance to low level training for the thousands of people who are unemployed.
"We need to invest in and engineer an economic system that will provide sustained regional competitive advantage and build sustained economic growth."
(NS/BMcC)
