More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Dole queues in Kent and Medway shortened by 1,215 people in September to 29,021, a fall of 6,016 compared to the same time last year.
It represents a 2.5% drop in Kent and a fall of 3.3% in Medway, which collates its figures separately. That is a fall of 0.5% and 0.7% year-on-year respectively.
Nationally, the number claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance last month fell by 41,700 to 1.35 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Every region in the county saw a fall in its claimant count, with Medway recording the biggest fall of 244 to 5694, although it has the highest total.
Shepway had the second largest fall, down 153 to 2,151.
Ashford saw the next biggest drop with 126 fewer people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, a total of 1,584.
Also in triple figures for fall in claimants was Swale, down 116 to 2,778, and Tonbridge and Malling, down 101 to 1,189.
Dover’s count fell by 84 to 2,024. Next was Thanet, down 68 to 4,394 – the second largest claimant count in Kent.
There were also falls in Maidstone, down 66 to 2,005, Canterbury, down 65 to 1,937, Sevenoaks, down 55 to 912, Dartford, down 50 to 1,479, Gravesham, down 44 to 2,099 and Tunbridge Wells, down 43 to 775.
Nationally, the number of unemployed people fell by 18,000 to 2.49 million from March to May 2013.
The unemployment rate was 7.7%, down 0.1% on the same period.
