UNEMPLOYMENT in Wyre Forest is continuing to fall according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The figures show the number of unemployed claimants in the area in August was 1,206, which is 886 lower than in August 2013 and 10 lower than in July this year.

In 2010, the percentage of unemployment in Wyre Forest was 4.8 per cent and the number of unemployed claimants has dropped by almost half since.

The area figures represent an unemployment percentage of 2.6 per cent, lower than both the rates of West Midlands (3.8 per cent) and nationally (3.1 per cent).

The rates have dropped nationally as there are now 774,000 more people in work since last year and the number of people who are classed as ‘long term unemployed’ is down 175,000.

Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest MP, said: “We have a consistently low claimant count in Wyre Forest - it is continuously lower than both the regional and national average.

“This low rate is good news for our area and shows that all of the hard work that we do locally to combat unemployment is paying off.

“Nationally and locally it is good to see so many more people in work than this time last year.

“There has also been good news with regards to inflation which has fallen to 1.5 per cent as the cost of petrol and food has dropped. All of this highlights that our economy is strengthening and becoming more stable.

“However, it is important to not be complacent and I will continue to hold events such as jobs fairs in Wyre Forest to ensure that the claimant rate in Wyre Forest remains low.”