THE number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Gwent has fallen, according to new statistics released yesterday (Wed).

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the employment rate for the UK as a whole from July 2016 to July 2017 is at a record high of 75.1 per cent.

The number of people in employment has increased by three million since 2010.

The statistics also revealed that the number of people claiming job seekers allowance fell across the whole of Gwent compared to last July.

In Newport, the overall claimant count is 2,605 which is a fall of 12 per cent compared to last July.

The biggest fall in claims - totalling 18 per cent - was recorded in Blaenau Gwent which now stands at 1,410.

According to the Office for National Statistics, claims also fell in Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Torfaen by 10, 10 and 15 per cent respectively.

First minister of Wales Carwyn Jones also welcomed the news and said: “These latest figures show another steady performance for Wales, with unemployment down 0.3 percentage points on the previous quarter to 4.5 per cent and improvements over the last year in both the rates of economic inactivity and employment, which now stands at 72.7 per cent.

“As a government we remain committed to investing in the infrastructure that Wales needs to prosper and grow and to creating the economic conditions that will result in the high quality jobs that people here want and need. We have also announced support for 1000 new apprenticeship opportunities this summer."

Minister for employment, Damian Hinds added: "These statistics show that record levels of people are in work across the country and earning a wage, which is great news.

“Over three million more people are in work now than in 2010, with seven in ten of these roles being in higher skilled work.

“Over the past year the rise in employment has been overwhelmingly driven by permanent and full-time jobs."