THE number of jobseekers in Thurrock has fallen this month.

Latest figures by Job Centre Plus revealed the number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance has fallen in four out of five boroughs of south Essex.

Thurrock claimants fell by 35 from 2,130 to 2,095 from April to May, with 70 less claiming jobseeker’s allowance in May this year than in May 2016.

Dave Cope, operations manager for Job Centre Plus in Essex, welcomed the figures and highlighted how schemes with companies in Grays has helped the borough.

He said: “UPS recruitment in Grays has been quite high, and along with Amazon too, this has worked very well for Thurrock.

“Seasonal variation means that more summer jobs are available in Southend in particular, obviously Basildon has bucked the trend here, but it is a very encouraging development for the area.”