Town's job market boost

WARRINGTON’S job market has continued to improve for the fourth month, according to official figures on the number of people claiming benefit the town.
According to the Office of National Statistics, 4,598 people were looking for work in December, 150 people less than November and the fourth time the figure has dropped since it peaked at 5,134 in August last year.
Almost one third of those looking for working in Warrington – more than 26 per cent – are 18-24 year olds and 1,075 are women.
The figures are still higher than they were 12 months ago and the number of people looking for work in Warrington remains at its highest level for more than four years but the drop could provide hope that the economy of the town is improving.
National figures released last week claimed that the UK recession, the longest since the second world was, was officially over.
Leader of Warrington Borough Council Ian Marks said: “The latest unemployment figures show a further reduction in the number of claimants in the local area. This can be taken as evidence that Warrington is showing resilience and recovery from the national economic downturn. Some of the reduction may be due to temporary Christmas jobs, but the overall trend looks to be encouraging.”