The number of people on benefits across Coventry and Warwickshire has fallen for the first time this year, according to the latest figures.
The Office of National Statistics say there were 19,726 Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in March, 51 fewer than in February.
It is the first time the figure has dropped since November and brings the area in line with the national trend.
Across the West Midlands, the jobless total between December 2010 and February 2011 was 260,000 – or 9.7%.
That means there are 4,000 more people in work compared with last month
But our region remains the UK’s second-worst in terms of employment performance, only behind the North East.
Total unemployment across the country has also fallen - by 17,000 to 2.48 million.
But the number of young people out of work has increased by 12,000 and nationally the number of women claiming Jobseekers has hit a 15-year high.
As I've mentioned before, the official numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance is a very poor indicator of the true numbers unemployed.
1)The amount paid is very small, especially for single people and homeowners (£67.50 per week).
2)The conditions for claiming it are very intimidating and put many people off.
3)Many older unemployed in particular sign-on only to qualify for a Class 1 national insurance credit.
4)Those on 'training' or 'job-creation' schemes are not included in the official total.
For someone with savings who does not qualify for top-up payments and expects to be unemployed for only a short time it is not worth claiming at all.
Unfortunately, governments rarely care about the lives that they are screwing up with their manipulation.
