NEARLY 500 fewer people are claiming benefits in Warrington compared to this time last year.

New statistics from the department for work and pensions show that a total of 480 fewer people are claiming than in March last year.

Anne Ryan, customer services manager at Jobcentre Plus on Mersey Street, pointed to growing jobs in the retail, hospital and business sectors.

She said: “The latest labour market statistics show good news with record employment rate highs while the number of young people in work or full time education is at 85.7 per cent.

“It’s also good news for Warrington with 480 fewer claimants than there were this time last year with the biggest growth sectors include retail and hospitality.

“In hospitality there are 23 per cent more vacancies, in I.T and business it’s 10 per cent up while in construction there are six per cent more vacancies and the retail sector has benefitted from the redevelopment in Warrington.”

Ms Ryan said that Jobcentre Plus had also helped residents ‘get closer to the labour market’.

She added: “We have helped people get close to the labour market with a lot of opportunities and training and also supporting them to apply for vacancies – we need to make sure people receive intensive support to help them.

“They have designated work coaches allocated to each individual person and that help and support gets them back into work as quickly as possible.”