Unemployment falls to year’s lowest level
UNEMPLOYMENT fell in Halton again during May, according to Office For National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The total number of recipients of out-of-work benefits fell to 2,155 from 2,280 during the month, taking it to the lowest level this year at 2.7%.
Youth unemployment also fell month-on-month to 550 18 to 24-year-olds, down from 590 in April and again to the lowest level in 2016 and down from 620 in May last year, a drop of 12.7%.
Halton’s overall out-of-work claimant count remains higher than the North West (2.4%) and Great Britain (1.8%).
Alan Harrison, Jobcen- tre Plus spokesman, said there were more jobs on the way for the borough with up to 600 to be created at the Alstom £20m rail technology and training maintenance park in Widnes, as covered in past editions of the Weekly News.
Fifty of those will be ‘highly trained’, Mr Harrison said, adding that Jobcentre Plus will be working with the company.
He added that nine Liverpool city region housing associations, including Riverside, Plus Dane and Liverpool Housing Trust, will be combining forces this month when they hold the Employability 2016 jobs fair at St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Tuesday, June 28.
The event is from 10am to 2pm, is free to enter and will host more than 50 employers recruiting and as many training organisations also present.
In the North West, the number of people in work fell by 4,000 from April, but it was up 50,000 on the same period last year to 3,372,000. The Government declared that employment in the region was at a ‘near-record rate’ of 72.8%.
Stephen Crabb, Work And Pensions Secretary, said: “Secure employment and a decent wage are key to transforming the life chances of people right the way across the country, so I’m delighted to see another strong set of figures this month.
“Our economic plan is delivering jobs and security right across the UK.”