Unemployment remains low in West Berkshire

THE number of unemployed people in West Berkshire remains at one of the lowest in Berkshire.

Figures released today (Wednesday) show that there were 516 people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance in August - around 0.5 per cent of the district's population.

Of the 516 people claiming JSA, 310 were male and 206 were female. Eighty of the 516 were aged between 18 and 24.

West Berkshire remains as one of the lowest in the county for unemployment.

Compared to the other five local authorities in Berkshire; Bracknell Forest had 600 people claiming JSA in August (0.8 per cent of population); Reading 1,424 (1.3 per cent); Slough 1,284 (1.4 per cent); Windsor and Maidenhead 629 (0.7 per cent) and Wokingham 520 (0.5 per cent)

The August figures show a slight rise from the 504 people in West Berkshire registered as claiming in July. 

A year ago, there were 763 people (0.8 per cent of the population) claiming JSA.

In 2010 the number of the registered claimants in the district stood at 1,954 (two per cent of the population).