The Monthly Labour Market Report showed that during May there were 1,779 local people out of work and claiming unemployment benefit - 1,401 men and 378 women. That is an increase of 36 people (2.1 per cent) on the previous month and a massive rise of 976 (121.5 per cent) over the year.
The local unemployment figure now represents 3.5 per cent of the working age population - still the seventh lowest of Northern Ireland's 26 council areas.
According to the statistics, the number of confirmed redundancies in the Newtownabbey area for the year to May 31 was 248.
Across Northern Ireland there was another marked increase in unemployment benefit claimants last month. The number of people out of work rose by 1,900 during May to 48,000 - the smallest rise in the last seven months, but only slightly down from April's total of 2,000.
Over the 12 months to May, the number of unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland increased by a massive 23,100 (92.8 per cent). However, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate (6.2 per cent) remains below the UK average (7.2 per cent) and the Republic of Ireland rate (10.6 per cent).
East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson, the Alliance Party's Enterprise spokesperson, has described the latest figures as "deeply worrying."
"This is deeply worrying that the number of people without work has again increased by such a large amount," he commented.
"The Executive could be doing a lot more, especially in helping to create jobs in the construction sector.
"These figures show that despite some saying we are over the worst of it, the economic downturn is still having a major impact on Northern Ireland's economy."