The number of Brentwood residents claiming Job Seekers Allowance is the lowest it has been for nearly a decade. 

The latest figures show that only 419 people are claiming Job Seekers Allowance and 53,000 people aged 16 and over are now employed.

While this shows only a small drop since October this year, when 425 people were receiving JSA, it is a significant drop since November 2013, when 665 people were claiming the benefit, and February 2012 when numbers were at their highest at 1,063.

The last time figures were this low was 2008.

Dave Cope, a senior business manager for Essex JobCentre Plus, is encouraged by the fall in people singing up for the hand-out.

“It’s a good sign, a really encouraging reduction.”