LATEST employment figures show more people are in work in the city than this time last year.

Unemployment figures for Worcester were released yesterday and show 1,040 people were claiming jobseeker’s allowance in February – compared to 1,055 during the same month in 2016.

However, the number of people out of work in the city has risen by 30 compared to January.

Mike Dzobia, of the Worcester Job Centre, believes the increase could be down to a new system in which people claiming Universal Credit are included in the jobseekers’ allowance count.

Worcester’s MP, Robin Walker, said: “It is welcome the fact that this is the 21st month in a row that we have had unemployment at 1.6 per cent or below in Worcester.

“What we are seeing overall is a very long period in which unemployment has been exceptionally low. Also, the national figures are showing a record high in employment, which is an extraordinary position to be in.”

But Mr Walker says more work still needs to be done to help people into employment, including getting young people onto apprenticeships. The number of people aged 18 to 24 out-of-work during February was 215, the same as in January, but 25 fewer than for the same month in 2016.

Across Wychavon – home to towns including Droitwich and Pershore – a total 650 people were unemployed in February, compared to 690 the previous year.

And in Malvern Hills 425 people were out of work last month, 25 fewer than in February 2016.

Nationally, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7 per cent – the lowest level in 12 years.

It means 31.85 million people are now in work.

Meanwhile, 1.58 people are unemployed, 106,000 fewer than this time last year.

Across the West Midlands region, 2.7 million people are now in work – a rise of 69,000 over the last year.

Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, said: “I’m delighted by another set of record-breaking figures showing more people in work than ever before and unemployment falling to its lowest in 12 years.

“It’s good news in the West Midlands where there’s a near record of 2.7 million people in work, a rise of 69,000 in the last year alone.

“But we have more to do, which is why we’re pressing ahead with our welfare reforms to ensure that it always pays to be in work.”