THE average wage of people living in the St Albans district is £602 a week compared to the national average of £423. But men earn considerable more than women - £655 compared to £503. However as these figures from the Office of national Statistics were ga

THE average wage of people living in the St Albans district is £602 a week compared to the national average of £423. But men earn considerable more than women - £655 compared to £503. However as these figures from the Office of national Statistics were gathered in 2004, those levels have probably risen since then. More people found jobs in the district in December, bucking the national trend. Also people who commute into the district to work earn considerably less. Men's earnings are £515 and women £390. Though unemployment figures for the rest of the UK rose to a three-year high last month, the number of people out of work and claiming benefit in the district fell. Between November and December the figure went down from 753 to 732. The decrease was due to the number of women who found jobs; the number of men claiming benefit rose by one to 529 but the figure for women fell by 22. St Albans District Council's heritage and tourism portfolio holder, Cllr Melvyn Teare, whose brief also includes economic development, said: "The figures show that the economy of St Albans is still very strong, particularly compared with other parts of the country." Explosion But he added: "We still have to find out what the effects of the Buncefield explosion in December will be in the area. A lot of people who worked there lived in the district and we still have to find out if their jobs will survive." He said it was also possible that some small and medium sized companies which had been based close to the oil depot might decide to relocate to St Albans.