Unemployment falls again in Shropshire
Unemployment has fallen again in Shropshire. Nationally the number of people in work and job vacancies have also reached new record levels.
In Shropshire the numbers claiming benefits including Jobseeker's Allowance and the unemployment element of Universal Credit were down for the second month in a row.
Employment in the UK increased by 137,000 in the quarter to May to 32.4 million, the highest figure since records began in 1971, giving a record rate of 75.7% and job vacancies increased by 7,000 to 824,000 - the most since records began in 2001.
For the West Midlands the number in work is up 137,000 on the year.
Nationally unemployment fell by 12,000 to 1.41 million, giving a jobless rate of 4.2 per cent, the joint lowest for more than 30 years, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The West Midlands figure was down 2,000 to 141,000 (4.8 per cent of the working population). Over the course of the last year it has fallen by 25,000.
Average earnings increased by 2.5 per cent in the year to May, compared with 2.4 per cent the previous month.
The claimant count, which includes people on Jobseeker's Allowance and the unemployment element of Universal Credit increased by 7,800 last month to 898,700, around 97,000 more than a year ago.
For the West Midlands the number of claimants rose by 390 to 100,340, but Shropshire had 50 fewer claimants at 2,255 (1.2 per cent of the working population).
In Telford and Wrekin the total was down 170 to 1,990 (1.8 per cent) and Powys saw a fall of five to 715 (0.9 per cent).
Neighbouring Staffordshire also saw a fall of 165 to 6,975 (1.3 per cent).
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey said: "The employment rate is now at a record high at 75.7 per cent.
"With over 3.3m more people in work since 2010, this Government has seen on average 1,000 more people in work each and every day.
"Making sure our jobs market works for everyone is at the heart of this department's work and the Modern Industrial strategy, and with over 800,000 job vacancies we have a buoyant jobs market with plenty of opportunities available.
"The eight-year trend shows the vast majority of roles are in full time, permanent work that's higher skilled – which means higher paid too."
