Unemployment figures in south Shropshire are falling – although there is a continuing rise in the number of people out of work across the country, an online survey has revealed.

The news comes as part of research undertaken by Philip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow, who is keen to study the impact of the recession on this constituency.

Mr Dunne said: “This week new figures revealed the continuing rise in unemployment across the country with the number of people out of work rising by 220,000 to 2.44 million in the three months to June, the highest level since 1995.

“While there are some positive signs in the constituency, with 36 fewer claimants in July than in June, a fall of 0.1 per cent in the overall rate, the national unemployment figures are dire.

“I am particularly concerned about the plight of our young people, the number claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has remained static rather than falling.

“The Government has failed to tackle the huge skills gap during the economic boom. Ministers must wake up, stop writing off a generation of young people and adopt our proposals for 100,000 more apprenticeships.”

Results from the online Philip’s Panel survey in July indicated 71 per cent of respondents reporting their disposable income had fallen as a result of the recession.