The labour market in Kent and Medway picked up last month (June) as more than 2,000 people left the dole queue.

The number of people out of work and claiming Job Seekers Allowance fell by 2,015 to 32,062 in June.

This came on top of the 1,645 who left the jobless register the previous month. Medway's unemployment figure fell by 429 to 6,525 (4.1 per cent). Across the rest of Kent, it was down 1,586 to 25,537 (three per cent).

All 12 districts, except two - Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells, where unemployment was already relatively low - enjoyed treble-digit falls.

East Kent fared particularly well, with 200 people coming off the register in Thanet, 204 in Swale, 155 in Shepway and 132 in Dover. Gravesham and Dartford also saw 165 and 147 people respectively leaving the claimant register.

However, the latest positive numbers come at a time when seasonal work is more plentiful than in the winter, and before imminent spending cuts hit public sector jobs.

Nationally, the quarterly unemployment rate fell by 34,000 to 2.47m (7.8 per cent). The claimant count was 1.46m, down 20,800 on the previous month and 100,000 lower than a year ago.

Claimant count on June 10: Kent and Medway, 32,062 (down 2,015); Medway, 6,525 (down 429); Rest of Kent, 25,537 (down 1,586); Ashford, 1,742 (down 117); Canterbury, 2,117 (down 112); Dartford, 1,901 (down 147); Dover, 2,134 (down 132); Gravesham, 2,370 (down 165); Maidstone, 2,224 (down 142); Sevenoaks, 1,224 (down 104); Shepway, 2,413 (down 155); Swale, 2,954 (down 204); Thanet, 3,911 (down 200); Tonbridge and Malling, 1,380 (down 47); Tunbridge Wells, 1,167 (down 61).