A QUARTER of all those eligible to work in Newport are without a job, new figures show.

In total 22,700 of those aged 16 to 64 are classed economically inactive – which equates to 25.8 per cent.

The figures collated by the Office for National Statistics between April 2010 and March 2011 shows Newport’s statistics are below the Welsh average of 27.5 per cent but higher than the British average of 23.8 per cent.

Two-thirds of Newport’s unemployed residents were men and one-third were women, and 5,600 said they wanted a job while 17,100 did not.

Of the 67,100 people who had jobs during that time, 53,600 were employed by others, 7,000 were in training and 6,000 were self employed.

Of these, 14.6 per cent were managers, 12 per cent were classed as professionals, 9.7 per cent worked in skilled trades, 7.6 per cent in sales and customer service and 7.5 per cent were plant and machine operatives.

Figures that show what qualifications residents have revealed 12,500 people have none – amounting to 12 per cent. But double that number have a degree-level equivalent or above.

Meanwhile, 17,760 of residents – 14.5 per cent – claim some form of benefit payment.

Some 15,050 of these were for so- called key out-or-work benefits such as job seeker’s allowance, employment support allowance, incapacity benefit, lone parent and other income-related benefits.

The figures published in a Labour Market report have prompted Newport council, which has agreed to conduct a review into how it can get those who want to work into employment.

An authority working group will look at what can be done and how the problem can be reduced.

Cllr Ed Townsend, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “Weare already working on several strands – attracting employers to the city, supporting new businesses and working with existing firms to encourage them to employ local people.

“We also have much work to do to provide training.”