OFFICIAL figures, released recently, show that the employment rate remains at 74.6 per cent, with 31.84 million people in work – an increase of 312,000 on the year and the joint highest rate since records began in 1971.

The Office for National Statistics has also announced that the unemployment rate remains low at 4.7 per cent – its lowest level since 1975.

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, the Minister for Employment, welcomed it as “good news in the South East where there is a record number of people in work at 4.54 million and a record 2.12 million women in work”.

Full-time work continues to be the driving force behind the rise in employment. Average weekly wages grew by 2.3 per cent, including bonuses over the last year. Wage growth has remained above two per cent every month since the beginning of last year.

Secretary of State Damian Green said: “This is yet another strong set of figures, with unemployment at a rate that hasn’t been beaten since the 1970s and more vacancies than ever before.

“More people are finding full-time jobs and average wages have grown yet again, meaning more families have the security of a regular wage.

“However, there is always more to do. That’s why we’re creating a welfare system that rewards work through Universal Credit, which helps claimants keep more of the money they earn.”

The April figures also show that there are 1.56 million unemployed people, 141,000 fewer than this time last year; the number of people in full-time employment grew by 146,000 in the last three months; the unemployment rate of 16-24 year olds who have left full-time education is 10.9 per cent – a drop of 1.3 per cent from last year; and long-term unemployment is at 389,000 – the lowest since 2008.

Separate figures show 1.1 million claims have been made to Universal Credit. Of the 490,000 people now claiming, nearly 40 per cent are in work.

In East Hampshire, according to Department for Work and Pensions employer adviser Hazel Prior, recruitment has been brisk.

In Alton, The Veolia Recycling Centre on the A31 at Froyle has 20 vacancies for sorting out recycled material on the conveyor belt, as well as one vacancy working on the Weighbridge. There are morning and afternoon/evening shifts available, and no experience is necessary as full training will be given.

And Drainfast is recruiting for a seven-and-a-half ton LGV delivery driver to work across London and the South East.

In Bordon, fast-growing sporting company Nuprol is moving into Budds Lane and is looking for warehouse workers, while the Coffee Pot at Prince Phillip Barracks is recruiting for catering/waiting staff and the garrison pool is recruiting for lifeguards.

And Yodel has vacancies for self-employed couriers covering Liss, Haslemere, Liphook, Petersfield and surrounding areas.

In addition, claimants in the Alton and Bordon areas have the opportunity to attend a basic IT and employability course at Alton Community Centre over five days.

Ms Prior said: “The course is designed to give our claimants the IT skills to be able to look for work effectively.”

The course is being run by Brockenhurst College and those attending will be given help to create a CV, apply for jobs, register with job search websites, and create an e-mail account. They will also have the opportunity to learn employability skills that will prepare them for the workplace and help them succeed at interviews.

Ms Prior continued with an open invitation to employers to use Jobcentres to hold recruitment events. She said: “These could be to hold interviews or give talks to groups of people who want to know more about working for the company. We have offices available at no cost to the employer and I am able to help with recruitment.”

For more details on any of the vacancies or courses, or for employer enquiries, call Hazel Prior on 01252 356511.