THE number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Wirral has fallen in the last month.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics today show 6,352 people claimed the benefit in March - a drop of 363 on the previous month’s 6,715.

Their data also showed continuing falls in unemployment, nationally, and a record 30.3 million people in work.

The claimant count fell by 30,400 in March to 1.14 million, the 17th consecutive monthly reduction.

Long-term and youth unemployment have both fallen. The number out of work for more than a year has been cut by 32,000 to 807,000, while the jobless figure for 16 to 24-year-olds has fallen by 38,000 to 881,000, the lowest for five years.

Employment minister and Wirral West MP Esther McVey said: "More young people are in work, more women are in work, wages are going up, and more and more businesses are hiring - and it's a credit to them that Britain is working again.

"But there is still more to do - which is why I'd go even further and call on more employers to work with us to tap into the talent pool the UK offers."