The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Jobless figures fall as vacancies rise
Department of Work and Pensions says working with employers is ‘top priority’
The number of people out of work in Peterborough has fallen as employers continue to struggle to fill vacancies.
New figures show the number of people out of work in Peterborough is currently 6,748 down from 9,946 a year ago - a fall of 32 per cent.
Included in that number were 1,057 18-to-24 year-olds - a drop of 43 per cent on a year ago when 1,839 people in that age range were unemployed.
The statistics have been released by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and also show that six months ago, there were 7,495 jobless people in Peterborough with 1,227 18-24-year-olds among them.
Across the East of England the number of people unemployed is at 102,000 - down 21,000 on the year.
The unemployment rate is at 3.2 per cent, lower than the UK average of 3.8 per cent and down 0.7 per cent on the year.
The fall comes as companies struggle to recruit enough people to fill all the vacancies.
And the DWP is to host jobs fairs in Peterborough over the next two months to help companies with their recruitment.
The first will be targeting the hospitality and leisure industry. About 10 employers have been lined up to attend the event in Northminster.
The second will be the Disability Confident Jobs Fair on May 19 at Northminster House Job Centre.
Julia Nix, DWP district manager for East Anglia, said: “With record levels of vacancies, it’s our top priority to work with employers and jobseekers to match the right job with the right person.
“We’re continuing to invite businesses into our jobcentre and by organising regular jobs fairs, many jobseekers have been offered jobs on the spot.”