More claimants in Shropshire but employment at record high

But numbers claiming unemployment-related benefits also surged in the region last month, although there are variations in Shropshire.

There were 133,000 unemployed in the West Midlands – an unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent of the working population – for April to June.

That figure is down 6,000 on the previous quarter and a fall of 31,000 on the year.

Nationally unemployment was down 65,000 to 1.36m – the lowest total since February 1975, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. The national rate was four per cent.

The West Midlands saw the largest increase in the employment rate in the country at 1.2 per cent and its employment rate is now 74.9 per cent, also a record high.

The claimant count figure for the region was up by 875 in July to 101,215 – 2.8 per cent of the working population.

Shropshire also saw a rise in numbers claiming, up 95 in June to 2,350 (1.3 per cent). But Telford & Wrekin had 65 fewer claimants at 1,925 (1.7 per cent).

Powys also saw a fall of five to 710 (0.9 per cent) and Staffordshire had a fall of 120 to 6,855 (1.3 per cent). South Staffordshire reduced by 25 to 930 (1.4 per cent).

For Wyre Forest, south of Shropshire, the claimant count was up by 25 to 985 (1.7 per cent). Wolverhampton's total rose by 175 to 8,130 (five per cent).