THE latest employment figures for north Shropshire have been released, showing that the number people not in employment has increased slightly on last year.

Compared with May of last year, there has been a 13 per cent increase in overall unemployment across north Shropshire.

This figure is tempered though by an overall 27 per cent decrease in unemployment over the last five years.

Meanwhile, UK employment rate remains at 3.9 per cent, with the number of unemployed people continuing to fall in every region of the UK since 2010.

The statistics also show the number of disabled people in work increasing by 1.15 million in the last six years – an increase of 246,000 disabled people in employment in the last year.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Women and Equalities, Amber Rudd, said: “More people in work than ever before means more households across the UK are earning a regular income, and millions more receiving a pay boost thanks to wages rising at their fastest in a decade – outstripping inflation for a 17th month in a row.

“This week many young people will receive their A-level results and begin their career journey. They should know that they are entering a workforce that is flourishing and full of opportunity and I hope all young people, especially women, feel empowered to flourish in every role in every sector.”