UNEMPLOYMENT across the Cotswolds has fallen - with figures nearly halving over the last two years.
New Government data released yesterday (Wednesday) has revealed that just 345 people in the Cotswolds constituency were claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit last month.
This figure compared to 365 in December 2014 and 660 in December 2013.
Nationally, the UK has its highest ever employment rate of 74 per cent, with a record 31.4 million people in work.
Over the past year the number of people in work has risen 588,000 and almost 75 per cent of rise in employment in the past year is full-time.
Overall unemployment now stands at 5.1 per cent, the lowest since early 2006, and long-term unemployment has fallen by 25 per cent over the year to 488,000 - the lowest in six years.
Employment Minister, Priti Patel, said: "This is a record-breaking set of figures – and has got 2016 off to a fantastic start."
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