by business editor Trevor Sturgess

A surprise dip in unemployment across the county has still left more than 38,000 people on the dole.

Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show that on March 8, 38,629 were out of work and claiming Job Seekers Allowance, a fall of 545 over the previous month. The total is nearly 4,800 higher (33,851) than the same time a year ago.

In Medway, the total fell by 108 to 7,541 (4.5% of the workforce), while the total for the rest of Kent - 31,088 (3.5%) - was down 437.

Ten out of Kent’s 12 districts all saw unemployment fall, with just two - Dover (up 12) and Gravesham (up 19) - posting a rise. The steepest dip was in Thanet (down 123). But Swale, which was hit recently by the closure of the Thamesteel plant in Sheerness, unexpectedly enjoyed a drop of 94.

The unemployment rate across the south east was 6.3%, the lowest in the UK.

National unemployment for the three months to February fell by 35,000 to 2.65 million (8.3%), the first time the figure has gone down since the March-May quarterly period last year.

Youth unemployment edged down 0.1% to 22.2%, but still leaving 1.03m 16 to 24 year olds looking for a job. However, if people in full-time education are excluded, the figure falls to 719,000.

Claimant count on March 8: Kent and Medway, 38,629 (down 545); Medway, 7,541 (down 108); Rest of Kent, 31,088 (down 437); Ashford, 2,122 (down 25); Canterbury, 2,583 (down 72); Dartford, 2,036 (down four); Dover, 2,802 (up 12); Gravesham, 2,959 (up 19); Maidstone, 2,635 (down 69); Sevenoaks, 1,406 (down 12); Shepway, 2,874 (down 18); Swale, 3,798 (down 94); Thanet, 4,946 (down 123); Tonbridge and Malling, 1,687 (down 43); Tunbridge Wells, 1,240 (down eight).