Deputy Graham Truscott, Social Security Assistant Minister, said: “I am delighted that the unemployment figures have continued to fall in 2016. This success is due to the hard work of the Back to Work team and the support of local businesses – particularly those who took advantage of the help that is available to them through Back to Work Recruitment.

“Our paid training incentives, offered through the year, have supported growth and helped a number of employers try candidates they may not have considered otherwise. For jobseekers, these incentives are vital opportunities to try something new and to learn new skills or refresh old ones. For many people, this also means becoming less reliant on Income Support and becoming more financially independent.”