EAST?Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has welcomed news that the unemployment rate has fallen to an 11-year low.

In flagging up that employment across the UK continues to run at a record high – with 31.8 million people now in work – Mr Hinds, who is also Minister of Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “With an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, we’re continuing to see a strong UK labour market, with growth fuelled by full-time jobs. Importantly, wages are also continuing to perform strongly with average wages growing by 2.3 percent over the last year.”

And he added: “I’m pleased also to see that the number of disabled people in work has increased by 590,000 in the past three years, and that the employment rate of 70.9 percent for workers aged 50 to 64 is the highest since records began in 1992.”

The total number of unemployed claimants in East Hampshire remains broadly unchanged at 370, which is 53 per cent lower than in 2010.

In Alton, according to Hazel Prior, employer adviser for the Department for Work and Pensions, based at Aldershot Jobcentre Plus, the run-up to Christmas is creating a flurry of recruitment.

Responsible for the Alton area, Ms Prior reported that this month she has been working with Iceland in Alton High Street which has vacancies for customer assistants, a store cleaner and a home delivery driver.

Kemp and Stevens Funeral Directors are looking for a funeral operative, and there are plenty of jobs going in the care sector.

Ms Prior said: “Full training is usually given and as long as you have a caring personality then there are many roles available, either working within a residential care home or as a domiciliary carer where own transport is required as this involves visiting people within their own homes.

“We always have care companies recruiting and applicants should search on gov.uk for vacancies within their local area.”

In addition, Community First is offering free courses to benefit claimants through which participants can learn new skills to add to their CVs, helping to make a positive change to their lives. The first course is entitled ‘Volunteering in the Community’, followed by ‘Add Structure to your Day’ – to help claimants gain employment by dealing with time management.

The courses are held at the Alton Maltings Centre. To book, call 0300 500 8085 or e-mail [email protected].

Ms Prior has also spoken with Ram Galami, a Gurkha employment adviser who is offering to assist Gurkha veterans in looking for work, or to give advice. To speak with Ram, call 01189 573178.