THE number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Wirral rose slightly for the first time in 28 months, according to latest official figures.

Office for National Statistics data shows that 2,130 claimed the benefit in January, compared to 2,128 the previous month.

Nationally, the jobless total dipped to 1.69m in the final quarter of last year, a rate of 5.1%, the lowest since the end of 2005.

More than 31.4m people are in work, the highest since records began in 1971.

The number of people on the claimant count, including Jobseeker's Allowance, fell by 14,800 last month to 760,200.

The data also showed a record 776,000 job vacancies across the economy after a 23,000 increase in the latest quarter.

ONS statistician Nick Palmer said: "While the employment rate continues to hit new highs and there are more job vacancies than ever previously recorded, earnings growth remains subdued and markedly below the recent peak of mid-2015."

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: "February is another record- breaking month, with the employment rate now at the highest it has ever been and wages continuing to grow.

"At a time when we are seeing the number of workless households at its lowest ever, this is further proof that our economic and welfare reforms are delivering more security and providing opportunities that give families the best chance in life."