JOBLESS figures for the district have marginally declined over the past month. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit during September was 1,747 – a reduction of 33 people compared to the month previous. But jobless numbers are still more than

JOBLESS figures for the district have marginally declined over the past month.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit during September was 1,747 - a reduction of 33 people compared to the month previous.

But jobless numbers are still more than double what they were in the district this time last year.

Of last month's claimants, just under 70 per cent were men leaving 553 women searching for work.

And there were less than 600 vacancies at the jobcentre in the district.

The total number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Herts has dropped slightly from 19,953 to 19,727 - three per cent of the county's population.

The St Albans district the least affected districts after Hertsmere and Three Rivers but Dacorum remains the worst affected, with 3.3 per cent of the population out of work.