Unemployment increase

3:59pm Friday 25th January 2008

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Pembrokeshire's December jobless total shows a small increase over the previous month.

With 1,090 people claiming benefit - just 93 more than November, 2007 - Pembrokeshire had 1.6% unemployment.

This was the fourth lowest rate in Wales where the average was 2.2%.

Compared to the corresponding month in 2006, there were 258 fewer people out of work in December. This is the 20th consecutive month where the county has recorded a year-on-year improvement.

As a result, the average number of people out of work in 2007 was 23% lower than in 2006 compared to an improvement of only 8% for Wales.

Another indication of the county's performance against the Welsh average over time is that in 2000, Pembrokeshire accounted for 5.15% of all the unemployment in Wales.

By 2007 this had reduced to 2.58%.

There is always a seasonal increase in unemployment at this time of year and this is most marked in the southern part of the county.

Pembrokeshire County Councillor deputy leader, John Allen-Mirehouse, who is also cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "If the normal pattern continues, we can expect to see a further small increase in unemployment across the county in January before the numbers begin to fall again in February."