Jobless total falls by 154

OLDHAM’s unemployment rate has fallen — against the national trend.

There are 154 fewer people unemployed in the borough than last month, the fall continuing a general downward trend that started last August.

There are 5,375 men out of work, a drop of 110, and 2,856 women, down 44. The figures put Oldham fifth in the Greater Manchester area, with lower figures than Manchester, Bolton, Salford and Wigan.

Nationally, unemployment has increased by 70,000 to 2.56 million, with rises among young people and those out of work for more than a year. The total is the worst since last summer, giving the UK a jobless rate of 7.9 per cent.