The number of people currently claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Sittingbourne and Sheppey is now lower than it was a year before the start of the economic crash.

Last month, there were 1,332 people aged 16-64 on the out-of-work benefit in this area.

This works out at 218 fewer claimants than what was the average for 2007.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show June marked the fourth successive month the number of jobless fell, with 81 coming off the benefit in May alone.

However, the figure for the area is still higher than the average in the South East.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey Jobcentre manager, Raj King, called the figures “fantastic news” but added there was still a long way to go before the area’s claimant count was brought into line with the rest of the region.

She said: “I think we’ve got a challenge in the area that we are working with, but it is not just about getting people into work but looking at the barriers stopping people from going into work [to begin with], stuff like drug and alcohol misuse.”

Miss King added that the continued fall in claimants was as a result of staff working closely with businesses.

She added: “We’ve had a lot of growth in Swale - Neats Court in Sheerness, which is just 10 minutes on the train from Sittingbourne.

“Sittingbourne has also had growth with employment, such as recent recruitments from ASDA, Morrisons and the new Wetherspoon’s.”

Just this week, the owners of Kent Science Park announced a 20-year masterplan is to be set out showing how the site will grow to create 4,150 jobs in the future.

The Eurolink has continued to expand over the past year, creating hundreds of new vacancies and is set to be the largest industrial estate in Kent.

However, attempts to discover how many people have left the dole without finding work have been unsuccessful.

Responding to the latest figures, MP Gordon Henderson said: “This is great news for people who want to work hard and get on – with wages also rising at the fastest pace since 2007.

“However, we cannot be complacent which is why I will continue to work with local businesses to try and create even more, well paid full time jobs.

“I will also continue to work with local schools and training providers to ensure that people have the skills needed to fill the jobs that are created.”

Council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) said: “It’s all positive, it shows that locally and nationally our policies are working, but there’s also a lot more to do.”

And opposition leader Cllr Mike Baldock (Ukip) has sounded a more cautious note, arguing the figures do not show the type of work people are moving into.

He said: “Really, you’ve got to look at the quality of the jobs. For example, the number of zero-hours contracts.

“While it is good people are finding work, we need to be sure they are finding work they can build a future with.

“There is a wider picture than simply numbers.”