Unemployment in the county has risen by 1,000 while, nationally, vacancies have fallen for the 17th month in a row amid concerns over the future of the jobs market.

The latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal unemployment across Kent and Medway increased to 39,140 in October – up from 38,140 in September.

Provisional figures – which are subject to revision – for November suggest rates will continue to rise.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: “Job vacancies fell again. This is now the longest period of decline on record, longer than in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 downturn.

“Nevertheless, the number of vacancies still remains well above its pre-pandemic level.”

Nationally, the rate of unemployment remained unchanged at 4.2% in the three months to October. In Kent, the figure for October was 3.4% – up from 3.3% the month before.

The biggest rises in the county were in Swale (up 130) and Maidstone (up 135). There were also modest increases in Dartford, Folkestone & Hythe, Sevenoaks, Thanet and Tonbridge & Malling.

Thanet continues to have the highest rate of unemployment in the county at 5.3% with Gravesham – which saw its figures dip slightly in October – next at 4.2%.

Folkestone & Hythe (3.9%) and Dover (3.8%) have the next highest rates.

The west of the county districts of Sevenoaks (2.1%), Tonbridge & Malling (2.2%) and Tunbridge Wells (2.3%) continue to be comfortably the lowest in the county.

Pay growth continues to currently outstrip inflation, nationwide, but has eased back at the fastest pace for two years.

The ONS said private sector regular earnings, excluding bonuses, rose by 7.3% in the three months to October, down from 7.8% in the previous three months.

This was the steepest fall in earnings growth since the three months November 2021 and marks a further pullback from a record high of 7.9% in the summer.

Jane Gratton, deputy director of public policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Labour market data continues to send mixed messages, as vacancies trend downward, but unemployment and employment remain largely static and pay growth outstrips inflation.

“But while we may have fewer vacancies, we still have a major shortage of skills across our economy. This is holding back productivity and growth. So now is the time to redouble efforts to prepare, upskill and reskill the workforce for the changes and opportunities ahead of us.

“These remain challenging times for firms and the BCC’s most recent forecast predicts the economy will grow by just 0.6% in 2024 and business investment will contract by 0.8%. Government must do all it can to help businesses invest more in apprenticeships, technical education and upskilling people in work.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said of the figures: “It’s positive to see inflation continue to fall and real wages growing.

“At the Autumn Statement, I announced an ambitious set of measures to get more people into work and boost economic growth. This includes a significant expansion of health support and an over £9 billion per year tax cut for employees and the self-employed, worth over £450 for the average worker.”