Craigavon is a local government district of Northern Ireland which includes the towns of Lurgan and Portadown, as well as Craigavon itself, a new town constructed during the 1960's and 70's. The district has a population of just under 90,000 and local recruitment agencies help people find jobs both in Craigavon and the adjoining Belfast Metropolitan area.
In keeping with the rest of the United Kingdom, employment in the services sector has grown in recent years. The re-branding of Craigavon Shopping Centre as "The Rushmere Centre" created new jobs as multi-national traders in search of staff moved into the complex. These included household names such as Curry's, Debenhams, H and M, Matalan and Pets At Home. Other retail jobs in the area are provided by supermarket giants Sainsbury and Tesco.
Newspaper publishers Johnston Press also provide jobs in Craigavon in the form of a major print works and production facility at the Carn Industrial Estate. All of the firm's Northern Ireland publications are printed here including a large number of weekly newspapers and the daily "Belfast Newsletter".
Craigavon has two railway stations - Lurgan and Portadown - making it relatively easy for local commuters to travel to jobs in central Belfast.
