Young people out of work in a Shropshire market town has halved
The number of young people out of work in one of Shropshire's market towns has almost halved in a year, according to new figures.
There were about 35 people between the ages of 18 and 24 out of work in Market Drayton between October 2013 and September 2014, according to the Office for National Statistics.
That is 41 per cent less than the year before, when about 59 young people were on the register for jobseekers allowance in the area.
Bill Evans, employer and partnership manager for north Shropshire job centres, said the news was very encouraging.
He said: "It is great news the number of unemployed people in Market Drayton is reducing.
"We are currently working with Tunstall Hall Care Centre on the outskirts of Market Drayton which is managed by St Philip's Care Group.
"There is a recruitment day on February 23 and we are encouraging as many people as possible to apply as there are a variety of vacancies.
"The labour market in the area is going up.
"We have a skilled team of advisors looking out for job vacancies and making sure we find the right jobs for the right people.
"We are currently having a push on the hospitality sector and doing sessions with claimants. We work with providers locally to help.
"Around 45 per cent of our customers in Market Drayton go into local jobs. The main reason is due to the recruitment agencies here, such as Assist, Acorn and PMP, who employ for Muller, Culina and Pork Farms respectively. We have also had quite a lot of success with a relatively new will-writing company. We don't tend to get a lot into retail though."
Mr Evans said there has also been a 36 per cent reduction in the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance above the age of 24 over the last year in Market Drayton – with 113 people now on the register.
Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "It is good news for the town and young people that very few are out of work.
"In an ideal world this figure needs to be zero but there are always a few people that don't want to work but does seem to be in this town if you want to work then there is a job for you."
It comes after Shropshire's year-long run of falling unemployment came to a halt last month, as temporary workers brought in to staff shops over Christmas were released from their roles.
The number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance rose to 2,477 in Shropshire in January, up from 2,409 the month before. Telford & Wrekin also experienced an increase, from 1,921 to 2,050, and Powys's figure rose from 958 to 1,038.
But the figures were far lower than at the same point last year.
Nationwide, unemployment continued to fall, down to a near seven-year low, while a record number of people are in work.
The jobless total dipped by 97,000 in the quarter to 1.86 million, almost half a million down on a year ago, while employment increased by 103,000 to almost 31 million, the highest since records began in 1971.