THE number of residents on the dole in Hertsmere has fallen for the third consecutive month, after peaking at a 14-year high in February.
Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 1,683 people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in May.
This compares to 1,816 in April and 1,819 in March.
February’s figure of 1,867 claimants was the highest since August 1996.
The news will be seen in some quarters as an indication that the economy is beginning to recover following the worst recession the UK has seen since the end of World War Two.
However, it also remains unclear just how future figures will change as the coalition government prepares to slash and burn the public sector in order to help reduce the national debt.
Across the UK as a whole, the number of people on the dole fell in May by 30,900 to 1.48 million.
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