Fall in unemployed benefits claimed across the south (From This is Hampshire)

Fall in unemployed benefits claimed across the south

3:07pm Thursday 15th October 2009 in

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LATEST figures from the Government show the number of unemployed people on benefits has fallen across the south.

The total figure of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is now 22,262 - down 619, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Every local authority area in south Hampshire found their claimant counts falling between August and September, with the biggest change coming in Southampton, where claimants fell by 164 from 6,639 to 6,803.

However, the Isle of Wight recorded a slight increase in claimants, from 3,196 to 3,202.

The overall fall in jobless benefit claimants locally bucked the trend nationally, where the number of people claiming JSA increased by 20,800 in September to 1.63 million.

However, this was the smallest rise since May 2008.

Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Although unemployment isn’t as high today as many feared it would be at the time of the Budget, it remains a serious problem, which is why we must keep increasing support and advice to get people back into jobs.”

But opposition politicians highlighted that long-term unemployment had almost doubled to 1.1 million in the past year.

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb said the issue would be “a devastating legacy” of the recession unless tackled immediately.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said: “While it is encouraging that the growth is slowing, this is not the time for complacency.

Labour are now the party of unemployment with two and a half million people unemployed, and one in five young people who can’t find a job.”