Unemployment falls by more than a third in West Berkshire

Latest stats show number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in district is down by 36 per cent

THE number of unemployed people in West Berkshire has fallen by more than a third in the past year.

The latest labour market figures, released by the Office for National Statistics this week, show that the total number of people in the district claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has dropped to 622 – 36 per cent less than the 972 claiming last year and a 71 per cent reduction in the 1,508 claiming in 2010.

It is also good news for young people in the district.

The rate of unemployment among 16- to 24-year-olds has fallen by 40 per cent – from 175 last year to 105 this year.

The figure of 105 claimants represents an 80 per cent reduction compared with 410 in 2010.

Employment and partnership manager for Berkshire West, Karen Brown, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this brilliant set of figures.

“It shows the work we have been doing with our partners to get people back into work."

UK employment has reached an all-time high of 73.5 per cent – and over the last year employment growth has outstripped every other major economy.

Unemployment has dropped to 5.5 per cent and there are more than half-a-million more people in work compared with a year ago.

A ‘one-stop shop’ offering employment advice has been set up. Visit http://berkshire.elevateme.org.uk/