UNEMPLOYMENT is continuing to fall in Exeter and across Devon, new figures showed.
According to the latest official statistics, 1,637 people in the city were receiving Jobseeker's Allowance in July – down 72 on the previous month and 479 fewer than the number a year ago.
The downward trend was reflected across Devon, where 7,497 people claimed the unemployment benefit last month – a fall of 244 since June and 1,774 in the space of 12 months.
In all districts there are now fewer JSA claimants than a year ago.
In East Devon, the number fell by 37 to 887 last month – 300 fewer than a year ago.
Mid Devon saw a similar fall, with 752 people claiming the benefit in July compared with 791 in June and 962 in July 2012.
In Teignbridge, the number of people receiving JSA has fallen at a slower rate, from 1,463 to 1,296 in the 12 months to July, including a drop of just one person since June.
It means 1.6 per cent of Devon's working age population is currently receiving the unemployment benefit – below the rate of 2.2 per cent across the South West and 3.5 per cent across the UK.