FIGURES have revealed that unemployment in Bury has fallen by more than 40 per cent over the last five years.

The records, published by the Office For National Statistics, show the number of people claiming job seekers' allowance had fallen 42 per cent, by 2,009, in October 2017 when compared with 2012.

And people claiming between the ages of 18 and 24 had fallen by 57 per cent to 820 since 2012.

The total number of people unemployed stands at 2,820, which is four per cent down on October last year and 30 per cent down on 2010.

Nationally, unemployment is down 59,000 on the quarter and is the lowest since 1975.

Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds said: "The strength of the economy is driving an increase in full-time, permanent jobs and a near-record number of people are now in work thanks to the Government’s welfare reforms.

"When unemployment fell to 5% early last year, many people thought it couldn’t get much lower, and yet it now stands at 4.3%.

"Everyone should be given the opportunity to find work and enjoy the stability of a regular pay packet. We’ve cut income tax for 30 million people since 2010, meaning people keep more of their money each month."