The area’s unemployment rate has fallen for the 11th successive month.

It means the number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) across Sittingbourne and Sheppey has dropped by 36% since January.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the jobless total stands at 1,551, compared to 1,617 in October.

Overall, the latest figure represents 873 fewer people claiming JSA since the start of the year when the number stood at 2,424.

MP Gordon Henderson said: “I’m delighted the figures have come down.

“I only hope they keep going down in the months ahead to such an extent that we reach a position where everybody who wants to work has got a job.

“This news is a great Christmas gift for local people and a positive end to 2014.

“I’m very confident this trend will continue into 2015.”

One of the reasons for the fall is the continued expansion of Sittingbourne’s Eurolink estate with hundreds of jobs created and more to come.

And work is finally expected to start on the Sittingbourne town centre regeneration in the spring.

If approved and delivered, it will see a cultural centre – including multi-screen cinema and eateries – and a civic quarter featuring a new base for Swale council.

With a value of more than £100 million and an estimated economic benefit of £326 million over the next 10 years, more than 1,000 jobs could be linked to it.

The opening of Neats Court retail park at Queenborough in September last year has also done much to reduce the area’s jobless total.

It currently houses five big-name businesses, with plans to add a Sports Direct store, a Lidl and a Marston’s pub in the pipeline.

Aldi is set to create 400 jobs when it opens its £50 million distribution centre and headquarters on land opposition the park.

However, Mr Henderson said he’s aware the total doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story.

He said: “I know some of the jobs which have been created over the last year are part-time and some are zero-hour contracts.

“What we want to do is try and ensure we get more full-time jobs.”

Swale council leader, Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con), has responded to the concerns.

He said: “There are more people in employment in Swale than ever before. It’s brilliant news. “There’s a mixture of jobs, but there’s very few zero-hour contracts other than where it’s obvious they would be such as lifeguards in swimming pools.

“Part-time positions give the opportunity for everyone including mums with children and those approaching retirement find a job which suits their circumstances.”

Cllr Roger Truelove, above, Swale’s Labour spokesman on economic growth, sounded a note of caution on the jobless total, which shows there are 785 fewer people looking for work compared to November 2013.

He said: “Clearly the improving figures are to be welcomed. The economy was bound to recover and it’s a good thing people in Sittingbourne and Sheppey are benefiting.

“However, far too many of these jobs are low paid and insecure.

“There are still many people on wages which require benefits to keep them to a living standard.”

The area’s long-term employment prospects were further boosted last month when Peel Ports revealed a master plan for Sheerness Dockyard which, if agreed, could create 1,250 jobs over the next 20 years.

Broken down into gender, November’s jobless figure for the two areas shows 970 claimants are men, 581 are women.