Horsham breaks national trend as unemployment falls

According to figures released by the Office of National Statistics on Wednesday, September 16, unemployment was up across the country with 10,000 more people out of work between the May-to-August period compared to the three months previous.

In Horsham 470 people were reportedly claiming Jobseekers Allowance in August.

The figures show a five per cent drop in the town’s jobless total over the past month and a fall of around 32 per cent between August 2014 and August 2015.

Around 85 people aged between 18-24 were reported to be out of work in the town, a decrease of around five per cent on last months figures and a 35 per cent reduction on last year’s total.

Simon Hobday, relationship manager at the jobcentre Plus, said: “National figures have show a very slight increase but we have continued to see a reduction in Horsham.

“We are quite pleased. We usually see a slight increase as students finish at university and start looking for work. We have not see this as most have gone straight into work or we have found them work experience placements.

“It shows there is hope and opportunities here which there may not be in other parts of the country.

“We are seeing small changes but all heading in the right way. We don’t see any change in that.”

In West Sussex unemployment has increased by 3 per cent with 4416 currently out of work in the county.

Crawley and Mid Sussex have both seen their totals stay the same with 935 and 390 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in both areas respectively.