YOUTH unemployment in Redditch has fallen 74 per cent in five years, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The figures released today (Wednesday, February 15) show number of young claimants in Redditch, aged 18 to 24, fell by 20 to 180 compared with 200 claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) in the same month last year.

The figure for the total number of claimants in the town was 885- the exact same as in the conresponding month last year.

Despite this unemployment in Redditch is still down by about 59 per cent in five years.

In the West Midlands 64,000 more people are in work compared to last year.

Responding to the West Midlands figures, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Damian Green said: "With employment at its highest rate since records began, and unemployment at its lowest in over a decade, we remain in a position of strength.

"Our on-going welfare reforms will continue to incentivise work and make sure the system is fair to all those who need it and those who pay for it.

"It’s good news in the West Midlands where there’s a near record of 2.7 million people in work, a rise of 64,000 in the last year alone."