UNEMPLOYMENT in the Malvern Hills district is at its lowest level since June 2008.

Official figures show just 466 people in the area – 296 men and 170 women – were claiming jobseeker’s allowance last month, or 1.1 per cent of working-age people.

This is a decrease of 34 claimants compared to January and represents the best results for the district in almost seven years.

West Worcestershire MP Harriet Baldwin said:"I would like to thank all the brilliant businesses who have created a record number of jobs.

“This means there are thousands more people in West Worcestershire with the security of a pay packet for the first time.

“Coming alongside the news that wages are rising faster than prices, it’s clear that the government's long-term economic plan is working for families in our area, helping them to be more financially secure."

This February 256 fewer people were claiming jobseeker’s allowance than the same time last year while 680 fewer signed on compared to the district’s unemployment peak in January 2010.

A spokesman for Job Centre Plus said: “It is wonderful that we are seeing record-breaking employment levels in the Malvern Hills district.

“In Worcestershire the labour market is buoyant with local companies taking on new people and quite a lot of development and regeneration in the area.”

Data for the whole of Worcestershire shows that 102 more people are claiming jobseeker’s allowance than in January.

In the Wychavon district the number of claimants has risen by 20 while in Worcester 66 fewer are receiving the out-of-work benefit.