UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen by 10 per cent across the Vale of Glamorgan since this time last year.

Figures released by the Department of Work and Pensions on Wednesday (December 13) showed that the claimant count fell from 1210 last year to 1095.

Youth unemployment in the Vale for those aged 18-24 has fallen by nine per cent from 320 this time last year to 290 this year.

Job centre work coach team leader Cath Thomas said that recruitment at the Penarth and Barry job centres has been “buoyant.”

“There has been no sign of a slow down because of the Christmas period which used to happen.”

She said they have lots of vacancies in the care sector, catering and security and have struggled to fill some of them.

There will be a care sector hub drop-in event this Friday (December 15) at the Charles Street job centre in Cardiff from 10am-12pm and Apollo Teaching will also be at the centre on December 19.

Ms Thomas said: “We would encourage people to contact their job centre and speak to a work coach.”

First minister Carwyn Jones said: “The labour market statistics published today show that we are building on strong foundations, with the second largest increase in employment rates of the UK regions over the quarter and with economic inactivity in Wales down on both the quarter and the year.

UK Government minister for employment, Damian Hinds said: “We’re ending the year on a strong note with figures showing the unemployment rate has fallen every month in 2017, and is now at the lowest it’s been in over 40 years.

“Employment is at a near-record high, and there are over three million more people in work now compared to 2010.”