Shropshire jobless figures fall to six-year low

In Shropshire Council's area, 2,743 people claimed jobseekers allowance in September, the lowest number since August 2008.

Telford & Wrekin's figure of 2,406 was the best since July 2008, meanwhile, and in Powys, just 1,075 people signed on – the fewest since July 2008.

The figures mean that 2.2 per cent of the working population of Telford & Wrekin is on the dole, compared with 1.5 per cent in Shropshire and 1.4 per cent in Powys.

The figures are reflected in the national picture, with the number of people in work reaching a record 30.7 million. Unemployment dipped by 154,000 to 1.97 million, the lowest for eight years.

But the number of people classed as economically inactive, including students, long-term sick and those retiring early, increased by 113,000 in the latest quarter to more than nine million.

Kully Chohal, employer engagement manager for Job Centre Plus in Shropshire, said the improvement was also being shown in youth unemployment.

"Generally, the jobs market is buoyant," she said. "We ran jobs fairs in the last month in Shrewsbury, Telford, Whitchurch and Bridgnorth, and in total 1,660 people attended them, and there were 140 employers representing 804 job vacancies from retail, care, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics and office admin.

"There were 2,235 18 to 24-year-olds out of work last September, and 1,445 last month. We have seen a one per cent reduction last month and 35.3 per cent in the last year, and a 53 per cent reduction since April 2009 when the recession was at its height.

"At the moment we have some big employers in Telford & Wrekin taking people on – with Faccenda and Heinz alone there are more than 100 vacancies as they are expanding in the area."

She added that while many people are being taken on for temporary Christmas vacancies at present, many of those jobs could turn permanent after the festive season is over.

Nationally, average earnings, including bonuses, increased by 0.7 per cent in the year to August, up by 0.1 percentage point on the previous month.

The number of self-employed people dropped by 76,000 in the latest three months to 4.5 million, but the total is 279,000 higher than a year ago.

Self-employment now makes up almost 15 per cent of total employment in the UK.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "Our jobs-rich economic recovery means that Britain is fast becoming the job creation capital of the western economies. Because our recovery plan is working, so is the country and in record numbers.

"Every job created is a family made more secure and is another step towards the stronger economy and fairer society that Liberal Democrats are committed to build."

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The long-delayed recovery is welcome. It is essential that, as the public finances improve, that money is spent getting the two million still on the dole back to work and restoring living standards."