The number of people in work has reached a record high of almost 30 million and unemployment has continued to fall – but Shropshire is bucking the trend.Nationally the jobless total was cut by 32,000 in the three months to January to 1.61 million, while the numbers on Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 2,800 last month to 793,500.

However in Shropshire the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants rose by 142, from 4,572 to 4,714.

The picture was reflected virtually across the county with only South Shropshire, down six to 263 claimants, showing a fall.

In Shrewsbury and Atcham the figure rose by 68 from 755 to 823 and in Telford & Wrekin it was up by 47, from 2,148 to 2,195. There was an increase of 17 in Oswestry, from 457 to 474 and 10 in North Shropshire, from 544 to 554. The figure rose by six in Bridgnorth to 405.

In neighbouring Powys the figure fell by 13, from 1,146 in January to 1,133 last month.

That reflected the national picture where the claimant count fell for the 17th consecutive month, although it was the smallest reduction since October 2006, said the Office for National Statistics.

Employment levels increased by 166,000 over the latest quarter to reach 29.46 million, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1971.

Meanwhile, investors were in positive mood when today when London’s biggest companies extended yesterday’s stock market gains.

The US Federal Reserve’s 0.75 per cent interest rate cut last night sent Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring by more than 400 points.