Unemployment benefit claimants fall in Wolverhampton and Black Country
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits was down across the Black Country last month with Wolverhampton seeing the biggest fall in the area.
The city has 85 fewer people receiving Jobseeker's Allowance and other benefits at 6,485 in May – 4.1 per cent of the working population.
It came after the number out of work in the West Midlands rose in the three months to April by 7,000 to 159,000 but the UK total fell to an eight-year low as the numbers in work continue to reach record levels.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics show the jobless total was cut by 20,000 in the quarter to 1.67 million, the lowest since the spring of 2008.
Wolverhampton has seen unemployment numbers fall by 42 per cent since 2010 according to JobCentre Plus leader for the city, David Jenkins.
He said claimant numbers for the city were down three per cent on the year and by 14 per cent in the 18 to 24 age group.
Mr Jenkins said the general trend for the city and West Midlands was still downwards with more jobs continuing to be created.
"This month we are seeing an increase in jobs in the hospitality and care sectors in Wolverhampton," he added.
"We are trying to building partnerships with local employers as well."
Numbers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and other unemployment benefits in the West Midlands fell last month by 640 to 80,105 – 2.2 per cent of the working population.
Claimants in Dudley were down 55 to 5,485 (2.8 per cent), Walsall by 30 to 4,620 (2.8 per cent) and Sandwell by 20 to 7.065 (3.6 per cent). In Staffordshire claimant numbers fell by 155 to 4,885 (0.9 per cent) with South Staffordshire down by 20 to 690 (one per cent).
In the West Midlands employment was up 22,000 for the quarter to 2.648 million – a 43,000 rise on the year. The number of unemployed is down 19,000 on a year ago.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb, said: "Secure employment and a decent wage are key to transforming the life chances of people right the way across the country, so I'm delighted to see another strong set of figures this month.
"There are more people in work than ever before and wages are continuing their upward climb."
