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Unemployment falls again in the West Midlands

The number of people in work in the UK has remained at a near-record high despite a slight fall in employment, new figures show.

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Unemployment in the West Midlands for June to August was 139,000

There were 32.39 million people in a job in the three months to August, a fall of 5,000 on the previous quarter.

It was the first fall since last autumn, although employment is still 289,000 higher than a year ago, the Office for National Statistics said.

Unemployment fell by 47,000 to 1.36 million, giving a jobless rate of four per cent.

For the West Midlands there was a fall of 2,000 to 139,000 (4.7 per cent).

The numbers claiming unemployment-related benefits in the region were up 405 last month to 104,000 (2.9 per cent of the working population) with Staffordshire up 45 to 7,085 (1.3 per cent).

Part of the increases is down to the roll-out of the new Universal Credit system in the region.

Wolverhampton has the highest rise in the Black Country of 175 to 8,405 (5.2 per cent) with Walsall up 85 to 5,065 (three per cent) and Dudley rising by 25 to 7,570 (3.9 per cent).

Sandwell had a fall of 35 to 7,380 (3.6 per cent). Stafford also saw a reduction of 20 to 830 (one per cent).

Lichfield's claimants total rose by 25 to 810 with Cannock Chase up 15 to 850 (1.4 per cent). South Staffordshire also had an increase of 15 to 970 (1.4 per cent).

In the Wyre Forest district, which covers Kidderminster, the claimant count was down by 70 to 900 (1.5 per cent).

Nationally average earnings increased by 2.7 per cent in the year to August, from 2.6 per cent the previous month.

Including bonuses, earnings grew by 3.1 per cent compared with 2.9 per cent in the previous period.

The number of people classed as economically inactive increased by 103,000 to 8.7 million after a similar rise in last month's figures. The total included 52,000 students.

Other figures showed that job vacancies increased by 3,000 to a near-record 832,000.

Minister of State for Employment Alok Sharma said: "I am particularly encouraged that wages continue to be on the up, outpacing inflation for the seventh month in a row and regular pay is up 3.1% on the year.

"And with unemployment at its lowest since the 1970s, since 2010 there are more people with the security of a job, more people with a regular salary, and more people able to support their families - and that is thanks to action this Government has taken to build an economy that works for everyone."