THERE'S good news on the jobs front after figures show the West Midlands has seen the second largest fall in unemployment in the UK.

A report for the the Office for National Statistics has revealed that nationally 694,000 more people are in jobs compared to this time last year, while employment has increased by 112,000 over the last three months alone, with the vast majority of the increase coming from people in full-time jobs. In the West Midlands, unemployment is down 2.2 percentage points to 7.2 per cent.

Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is great to see that the West Midlands has seen the second biggest fall in unemployment over the last quarter. This is in no small part due to the resilience of local businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The business community weathered the storm of the recession, and consequently, have helped drive down the rate of unemployment. These statistics were mirrored in Q3 of our Quarterly Economic Survey, which showed local businesses are hiring more full-time staff than the national average. To further support private sector growth, government must ensure that sufficient funds are put aside to help rectify the current skills void, which is a major detriment for businesses looking to invest in staff."

Commenting on the ONS report, employment minister Esther McVey said: "Record numbers of people in work means more people with the security of a regular wage who are better able to support themselves and their families. With the vast majority of the rise in employment over the last year being full-time, it’s clear that thanks to the Government’s long-term economic plan, we are helping businesses to create the jobs that people need. The West Midlands saw the second largest annual fall in the unemployment rate of all UK regions – down 2.2 percentage points to 7.2 per cent, so as the economy continues to grow, more and more people are having their lives transformed by moving into work.”