Unemployment in Southend has fallen but the number of jobseekers in the town is still above average, according to new figures.

Unemployment across the Rochford district has not changed and remains below the regional average.

David Horsley, chief executive of South Essex Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are very pleased to see a reduction in unemployment and hopefully this will continue during 2003."

In Southend there were 2,705 unemployed people, down by 187 on 2001.

This means 2.9 per cent of the area's population was out of work, compared to the eastern region's average of 1.7 per cent.

David Garston, Southend Council's executive councillor for regeneration and economic development, said there was a long way to go before unemployment in the town was resolved.

He added: "The seaside towns tend to suffer generally in winter and it's our job as the council to keep pushing for projects and money to come in."

The number of jobseekers also fell by 144 across Castle Point while in Rochford there was no change in the figures, with 609 people unemployed.

In Basildon, the number of jobseekers fell from 2,052 to 1,775, leaving 1.7 per cent of its population unemployed.

Published Thursday, January 16, 2003

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