UNEMPLOYMENT across Wiltshire rose to 5,099 in the three months to November, according to Department of Work and Pensions figures out today (Tues, January 22).

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions showed a 596 rise on the June to August figures for the county, a 13 per cent increase.

For all claimants in Wiltshire, there was a fall of 2,479 compared to five years ago, a 33 per cent decrease.

Sally Cook, the DWP’s Employer & Partnership Manager for Wiltshire, said: “We have a very low unemployment rate in Wiltshire. Generally, it is a relatively healthy and buoyant labour market in Wiltshire.”

Rob Perks, Chief Executive of the Wessex Chamber in Trowbridge, said: "We have had a few things happening in the last few months with some of the larger employers which has caused us a few problems here in Wiltshire.

"But generally we are a county with a very high employment rate, so this sort of news makes a big impact.

"However, there are still employers looking for skilled staff so it should be easy for people to get another job if they are skilled.

"For those who are unskilled, it's more difficult but if those people get in touch with us, we'll see what we can do to help."

Employment in the South West stood at 2.79 million, a 31,000 rise on last year, with the region having the highest employment rate in the country at 79.1 per cent.

The South West unemployment rate is well below the UK average at 3.1 per cent, compared to 4.8 per cent nationally.

The DWP said the number of people claiming unemployment benefits, including Universal Credit, in the South West rose five per cent or 3,620 to 72,006 from November 2018, because of the broader span of claimants included.

The five-year change shows a 35 per cent fall to 38,392 across all benefit claimants.

In the 18-24 age bracket, there were 11,321 young people in the South West claiming benefits, a rise of 686 or six per cent, compared to last year. Compared to five years ago, there was a fall of 11,715 or 51 per cent.

In 18-24 age bracket in Wiltshire, there were 899 people claiming benefits, an increase of 182 and a rise of 25 per cent on last year. Compared to five years ago, that figure falls by 766, a 46 per cent decrease.

Unemployment nationally increased by 8,000 to 1.37 million, although the total is 68,000 lower than a year ago, said the Office for National Statistics.

The ONS said employment continues to run at a near-record high rate of 74.5 per cent, with 31.8 million people in work – an increase of over 2.7 million since 2010.

There are 249,000 more people in work nationally compared to this time last year.

Nationally, the number of people out of work remains at an 11-year low of 4.8 per cent, down by more than 900,000 since 2010.

Employment Minister Alok Sharma said: "We start the new year with another encouraging set of figures.

“Employment continues to run at a near-record high, unemployment remains at an 11-year low and both figures are stronger than this time last year – highlighting the strength and resilience of our labour market as we step up to the challenges of 2019.

“Once again, we see a new record employment rate in the UK, with more people in work than ever before.

"UK workers also got a much-needed pay boost before Christmas with wages outpacing inflation for the tenth month in a row in November, growing at the fastest rate in a decade.

"There are 328,000 more people in work over the past year, almost entirely driven by full-time jobs as the Government delivers an economy that works for the British people.

"We have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping more people into work and will do what is needed to continue that trajectory as we build a country that works for everyone.

“Our pro-business policies have helped boost private sector employment by 3.8 million since 2010."

The rise in employment continues to be driven by full-time work, which is up by two million since 2010. Long-term unemployment is at its lowest level since 2008.

Record numbers of people are in work and job vacancies are at their joint highest level since 2001.

The number of women in employment has reached a new record high rate of 69.9 per cent.

Average wages, excluding bonuses, grew by 2.7 per cent over the last year, and there are around 750,000 vacancies at any one time.

Average earnings, excluding bonuses, increased by 3.3 per cent in the year to November, as wage rises continued to outpace inflation.

The claimant count remained at 2.3 per cent, close to its lowest rate since 1975.

Nationally, youth unemployment is down by over 360,000 since 2010 and the lowest in 11 years, while long term unemployment is the lowest since mid-2008.

The national increase in both unemployment and employment is explained by the UK's rising population, and fewer people classed as economically inactive, which includes those on long-term sick leave, students, and people who have given up looking for a job.