According to the latest government statistics – hundreds more people have found jobs in Horsham since February and therefore fewer people in the district are claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).

The Office for National Statistics stated that the area’s total unemployment stands at 1,079, after 267 jobseekers who live in the Horsham area ceased signing on in the past six months.

Horsham has seen its rate of unemployment fall consecutively for five months, from 1.7 per cent in February to 1.3 per cent last month.

Our unemployment rate is the third lowest in West Sussex.

There have been falling rates of unemployment across all of West Sussex’s districts. More than 5,000 fewer people in West Sussex have been claiming JSA over the last six months.

Wendy Bell, general manager at Sussex Enterprise, the county’s Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the figures and said the nation’s falling unemployment in the jobs market will help bolster hope in an economic recovery.

She said: “The continuing reduction in unemployment figures continues the trend we’ve seen over the last six months and helps to underpin hopes for further economic recovery, all national reports from sector based organisations seem to confirm that the general trend is positive. The national picture is more concerning with Youth and Long Term unemployment rising, however with the unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent we are still a long way from the seven per cent benchmark suggested by the new governor of the Bank of England at which the MPC may consider increasing interest rates, thus providing continued business confidence about the future.”

“The private sector is demonstrating that it is determined and able to create jobs and we look forward to continued success in Sussex .”