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3:59pm Friday 25th January 2008
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."
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Andrew Lye, Johnston says...
11:19pm Fri 25 Jan 08
So if there are 1090 claiming benefit, how many staff are there now, in the Job Centres?
With 400 jobs to start soon at Bluestone, will that mean an even lower unemployment rate, or will it attract new people to the County, from Eastern Europe, to fill these vacancies?
Can the WT please look into these issues and do a follow up report?