Unemployment drops across the West Midlands

Unemployment fell by 34,000 between March and May to 2.47 million, official figures showed today. In the West Midlands it fell by 23,000 to 230,000.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance last month fell by 20,800 to 1.46 million, said the Office for National Statistics. Only unemployed people actively looking for a job are eligible to claim the allowance.

In Wolverhampton the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 329 to 10,872, or 7.6 per cent of the working population - double the national claimant rate of 3.8 per cent.

In Walsall the claimant figure dropped 387 to 9,734, or 6.5 per cent, and there was a fall in Dudley of 356 to 9,420 or 5.1 per cent of the borough's workforce.

Sandwell also saw a drop, of 393, to 12,298 or seven per cent, while Birmingham also witnessed a fall, of 1,423, to 46,108 or 7.3 per cent of its working population.

Kidderminster and Wyre Forest saw a drop of 69, down to 2,240 or 3.8 per cent.

In Staffordshire, the Cannock Chase figure fell by 123 to 2,448 or 4.1 per cent of the working population, while Lichfield also saw a drop of 128, to 1,472, or 2.5 per cent.

There was a drop in Stafford of 84, down to 1,840 or 2.4 per cent, while South Staffs also saw a fall of 99 to 1,798 or 2.8 per cent.