And Foyle and Newry and Armagh are the only two constituencies showing a bigger increase between last February and the end of January.
During the period under consideration the number out of work rose steadily in South Down, reaching the 3,000 mark by last July. Indeed the figure only dipped in one month out of the 12.
The Mourne area has suffered the most high profile job losses in South Down during the past year.
Last August one of the biggest employers in South Down, B/E Aerospace, announced it was shedding 88 jobs as a result of the global recession.
And in October came the news that another major employer in Kilkeel, Cunningham Stone, had run into difficulties. In a statement the firm also blamed its plight and the subsequent job losses on the economic downturn.
Cllr Sean Rogers said it was clear Mourne continued to bear the brunt of the unemployment problem.
“Indeed, as disclosed by Minister for Employment and Learning Reg Empey, we are in the top ten of employment black-spots in Northern Ireland,” Cllr Rogers said.
“When you delve a little deeper into the figures you will discover that since January 2008 there has been a 360% increase [103 in January 2008, 473 in January 2010] in the numbers signing on in Kilkeel.
“Indeed this is not the full picture as it does not take account of the self-employed.”
But the local SDLP representative believes the economic recession is being “used as an excuse to do nothing.”
“We have tremendous potential, particularly in the area of tourism, and with a joined-up approach from the Stormont Executive we could begin to rebuild our economy,” Cllr Rogers said.
“I believe where there is a will, there is a way.”
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