SEASONAL variations in the labour market have been blamed for yet another increase in the number of Worcester people out of work.

Figures released today (Wednesday) reveal 1,025 residents aged 16 or over claimed Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Universal Credit in March, compared to 1,015 in February.

While the increase is only slight, the level of unemployment has been rising since December's record low when 860 were out of work.

Despite this, the unemployment levels have significantly reduced from the same month last year, when 1,225 people were claiming out of work benefits, and 1,614 from 2010.

The amount of people aged 18 to 24 who are unemployed has also dropped to 225 this March, compared to 135 in the same month last year and a whopping 540 fewer then in 2010.

Mike Dzioba, from Job Centre Plus, said: "There are always seasonal variations and normally for the first couple of months after Christmas we do get a bit of an increase. We do get more people coming back on to the register after Christmas.

"We are still very busy in terms of our work with a wide range of employers. We are slap bang in the middle of doing a recruitment exercise with the new Waitrose for Worcester.

"There are exciting times for Worcester in the year ahead, with the Cathedral Plaza.

"You would hope that with more people being in work, it is going to generate a healthy economy."

Statistics for the district of Wychavon, which includes Pershore, Evesham and Droitwich, show 665 people aged 16 or over claimed JSA or Universal Credit in March 2016, the same figure as the month before.

The statistics reveal a significant fall in unemployment from the same month in 2015, when 770 people were out of work.

Across the Malvern Hills district, 440 people were out of work in both March and February.

However, the figures reveal a increase of just more ten people in work this March, compared to the same month last year.

Overall figures for the West Midlands show the employment rate remains at record high of 74.1 per cent.

Work and Pensions Secretary of State, Stephen Crabb, said: "We remain in a position of strength, with a record employment rate, wages continuing to grow steadily and three-quarters of a million vacancies available in the labour market.

"There are currently a record 2.63 million people in work in the West Midlands, with employment up by 39,000 on the year.

"Work is essential in transforming the lives of the most disadvantaged people in society and is at the heart of our welfare reforms.

"We are committed to ensuring that everyone across the country benefits from our strong economy and the opportunities this brings."