THE amount of unemployed people in the Malvern Hills increased by one in July, but is down by more than 150 since this time last year.

New figures have shown 385 people, or 0.9 per cent of the district’s working-age population, were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in July, up from 384 in June. But this has fallen from 546 in July 2014.

Of these 244 were men, down from 246 in June and 359 in July 2014, and 141 were women, an increase from 138 the previous month but a drop from 187 12 months previously.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said she was pleased to see unemployment seemed to be on a general downward trajectory, despite the small increase last month.

“Today’s figures show that nationally, average pay growth is at 2.8 per cent, there are now a record 14 million women in work, and there are 354,000 more people in work than a year ago," she said.

"The long-term economic plan is clearly working.

“The number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants continues to fall and it is clear that with the numbers of start-ups increasing and more people taking the leap into self-employment, the local economy is upbeat.

“Vacancies are still near an all-time high but it is important that we continue our aim towards full employment and I hope that our world-class businesses in Worcestershire will keep growing and creating new jobs to give local people the security of a regular pay packet.”

Across Worcestershire as a whole 4,068 people were registered as unemployed in July, a drop of almost 2,000 in just 12 months, when it stood at 5,941.

Duncan Campbell of Jobcentre Plus welcomed the figures and said he believed unemployment would continue to fall in the coming months.

“It’s all heading in the right direction,” he said.

“When you start looking at youth unemployment and female unemployment this are all very encouraging.

“The other bit of good news is the number of vacancies now available has grown quite significantly and most of these jobs are more permanent, moving away from temporary posts, and full-time rather than part-time.”

Elsewhere in the county 1,023 people in Worcester, or 1.6 per cent of the city’s working-age population, were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance last month, down from 1,074 in June and 1,422 in July 2014. Of these 710 were men, down from 738 in June and 957 in July 2014, and 313 were women, compared with 336 the previous month and 465 12 months previously.

The amount of people in Wychavon claiming the benefit also dropped by just two from 609 in June to 607, or 0.8 per cent of the working age population last month. This was down from 812 in July 2014 and includes 383 men, a decrease from 396 in June and 520 12 months earlier.

But the amount of women in the district claiming the benefit was up slightly from 213 in June to 224 in July, but this is down from 292 this time last year.