FIGURES showing a fall in youth unemployment have been welcomed by the MP for Central Devon.

Overall employment now stands at 31.3-million, up by more than 500,000 on this time last year with unemployment falling to 5.2%, down from 6% a year ago.

In Central Devon the figures showed an 11% drop in unemployment over the past 12 months with just 351 people now claiming Job Seekers Allowance.

Mr Stride highlighted the drop in youth unemployment as the most important figure, commenting: ‘It has been falling steadily but now to see a 14% drop in one quarter is outstanding.

‘The fact that there were 747,000 job vacancies being advertised in the three months to November also shows that businesses are continuing to grow and that there are more opportunities for those looking for work, so the next set of quarterly figures could be even better.’

Youth unemployment fell by 98,000 to 625,000 between the May-July quarter and the August-October quarter. The proportion of under-25s who are unemployed and not full-time students is now less than 5.8% - the lowest on record.