Number of unemployed people in West Berkshire increases

THE number of people claiming unemployment benefit in West Berkshire has gone up for the first time in four months.

Figures released today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics show that 1,798 people (1.8 cent of the working population) claimed unemployment benefit during January – 111 more than in December.

Of these, 1,234 were men (2.5 per cent of the population) and 564 (1.1 percent of the population) were women.

This time last year, 51 fewer people in West Berkshire were claiming unemployment benefit.

In Reading 3,797 people claimed unemployment benefit last month and in Slough 3.388 people claimed.

In neighbouring Hampshire, 17,496 people claimed and in Wiltshire, 6,282 people claimed unemployment benefits last month.