by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Unemployment across the county edged up by just five in October.

The number of people out of work and claiming benefit stood at 35,028 on October 8, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Medway’s jobless total went up by 70 to 7,264, 4.6 per cent of the workforce. That was nearly 3,100 higher than a year ago. In the rest of Kent, it fell by 65 to 27,764 (3.3 per cent), up 12,100 over the same time in 2008.

Nationally, unemployment rose by 30,000 to 2.46million (7.8 per cent) in the three months to September - the smallest rise since May last year - while the number of people out of work and claiming benefit increased by 12,900 to 1.64million.

The figures confounded expectations that the latest figures would show unemployment topping 2.5million.

Youth unemployment continued to rise in the three months to September, with the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work increasing by 15,000 to 943,000, but again slightly lower than forecast.

The picture across the county was mixed, with unemployment down in seven of Kent's 12 districts and up in the rest. Tunbridge Wells enjoyed the biggest fall - down 109 - while Dover saw the biggest rise, up 99.

Unemployment figures on October 8:

Kent and Medway, 35,028 (up five); Medway, 7,264 (up 70) - 4.6 per cent of workforce; Rest of Kent, 27,764 (down 65) - 3.3 per cent.

Ashford, 1,977 (down 31) - 2.9 per cent; Canterbury, 2,339 (up 15) - 2.5 per cent; Dartford, 2,111 (down 11) - 3.7 per cent; Dover, 2,248 (up 99) - 3.7 per cent; Gravesham, 2,587 (down 73) - 4.3 per cent; Maidstone, 2,497 (up one) - 2.8 per cent; Sevenoaks, 1,405 (down 21) - 2.1 per cent; Shepway, 2,439 (up 48) - 4.2 per cent; Swale, 3,155 (up 66) - 3.9 per cent; Thanet, 4,082 (down 13) - 5.6 per cent; Tonbridge and Malling, 1,635 (down 36) - 2.3 per cent; Tunbridge Wells, 1,289 (down 109) - 2.0 per cent.