The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Wandsworth has fallen again for the eighth consecutive month, showing signs of a slow recovery in the borough.

Although the number of those claiming only fell by 14 since September, to 6,056 in October, the overall picture is encouraging compared to earlier this year where the number of people claiming JSA was as high as 6,841 in February.

However, this number is still high. Just two years ago unemployment levels were at just over 4,000.

According to the figures published by the Office for National Statistics, the percentage of Wandsworth’s unemployed population is 2.8 per cent is significantly lower than the London average of 4 per cent, and lower than the national average of 3.5 per cent.